Avi Lewis and redefining ‘radical’

Avi Lewis is unlikely to become prime minister any time soon. But the new NDP leader wants to urgently jump-start our transition from oil to green technologies with the new revenues and jobs they promise. Pragmatist-in-chief, Prime Minister Mark Carney, made similar arguments before he became a politician. These are not 'crazy' ideas.

Newly elected New Democratic Party of Canada leader Avi Lewis, left, with his wife Naomi Klein after after winning the leadership in Winnipeg on March 29, 2026.The Hill Times photograph by Matthew Merkel

Opinion

BY SUSAN RILEY

April 6, 2026

CHELSEA, QUE.—Long before his convincing victory last week, Avi Lewis, the brand new federal New Democratic Party leader, was widely portrayed as too “radical” for the country, for his party, for the times.

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