Canadians generally like to govern from the centre. Most electoral victories have been precipitated by the winning leader showing balance and moderation. Lewis’ victory was not based on moderation, but on exploding the status quo.
The NDP’s ‘one member, one vote’ system raises questions about accountability and whether Lewis voters will ‘stick around’ in the party beyond his leadership, says professor Lori Turnbull.
The mocking responses of the Establishment to Avi Lewis’ win belie their divorce from the realities of Canadians not in their socioeconomic class.
Reversing the party’s decline won’t come from better rebranding. The new leader must reconnect with workers, confront populism, and restore political purpose.
The self-described democratic socialist is pledging party unity, but fissures are already apparent as Alberta and Saskatchewan NDP leaders quickly criticized the new leader’s position on fossil fuels.
A dispatch from the third day of the NDP leadership convention in Winnipeg.
Don’t write the NDP’s obituary so fast, say current, former politicians and party supporters. At the party’s national convention, New Democrats vow that the party is ‘not going anywhere’ on the cusp of selecting a new leader.
NDP MP Heather McPherson emphasized her history of electoral success in Conservative stronghold Alberta, whereas activist Avi Lewis keyed in on his ‘big solutions’ to the cost-of-living crisis.
A dispatch from the second day of the NDP leadership convention in Winnipeg.
‘It’s way better than the alternative,’ the Manitoba premier said in his opening remarks on the first day of the NDP leadership convention in Winnipeg.
A dispatch from the night before and the early hours of the three-day gathering to elect the next New Democrat leader.
At a packed church in downtown Winnipeg, Avi Lewis supporters said they typically steer clear of endorsing politicians, but are showing up for the activist and filmmaker because he’s not a politician.
The decision will shape not only the NDP’s direction, but the balance of power in Ottawa at a moment when Canada’s two largest national parties are drawing closer together.
A battle is brewing with the provincial parties and, thus far, the NDP leadership candidate has shown little interest in compromise or respectful disagreement.
NDP strategist Tom Parkin says the party’s six-month leadership race has ‘stalled’ rebuilding efforts and left it ‘in a bit of a quagmire,’ but members are now ready to ‘pick the party up’ under a new leader.
Three-time Alberta MP Heather McPherson—whose biggest competition is considered to be self-described democratic socialist Avi Lewis—says her campaign is not centrist ‘by any stretch of the imagination.’
This is a good lesson for communication strategists trying to garner media attention for a client: if you want to make news, either pick a fight or raise lots of money.
Democracy Watch’s Duff Conacher says the gaps in voter identification could allow for foreign interference in the NDP leadership race, but the party says it has ‘established safeguards’ in place to protect the vote.
NDP leadership candidate Avi Lewis said the party is ‘allowed to have differences on specific issues,’ and facing criticism from Rob Ashton, warned they should avoid ‘doing our opponent’s work.’
‘The NDP comeback has begun,’ says leadership candidate Avi Lewis, who says his campaign has raised over $1-million, and has more than doubled his next closest competitor as of December 2025.
Five New Democrats are in the running to be the party’s next leader, but three are securing the most public support: Heather McPherson, Avi Lewis, and Rob Ashton
NDP MP Leah Gazan’s endorsement of Avi Lewis makes her the only caucus member behind a candidate. NDP MP Heather McPherson is backed by 12 former MPs, including longtime colleague Charlie Angus.
The party is being battered in the polls and remains, at best, a long shot to regain official party status any time soon. It needs controversy, not controlled messaging.
Hundreds of New Democrats painted SJAM orange on Oct. 28 at the Douglas Coldwell Layton Foundation’s annual gala.
