Canada's left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) has chosen former journalist and activist Avi Lewis as their new leader, after suffering major losses in the last federal election.

Lewis received 56% of the vote in a first ballot victory, defeating member of parliament Heather McPherson and three other candidates.

He ran on a platform to revive the struggling party, prioritizing worker rights in the age of artificial intelligence, ending new oil and gas pipelines and projects, and exploring state-owned, non-profit grocery stores.

Once the main opposition party in 2011, the NDP now holds only six seats in Canada's House of Commons.

At his victory speech on Sunday in Winnipeg, Lewis, 58, said his party is united in its commitment to the working people of Canada and to easing the cost-of-living crisis.

I know every politician says they feel your pain, and they claim to be outraged by the sky-high price of everything, but what they won't talk about is why an economy that's rigged for the rich is leaving the vast majority of us behind, Lewis said.

He will have the challenge of rebuilding the federal party.

Canada, mark your calendar: the NDP comeback starts now, Lewis said.

This is about all of us coming together to find our place and our power in the thrilling work of building a shared future: a government that works for the many, not the money.

The party's poor showing in the 2025 election forced the resignation of its then-leader, Jagmeet Singh, the first Sikh Canadian to lead a major political party.

The NDP lost a total of 17 seats in the 2025 election, including 10 to the Conservatives and seven to the Liberals. They are now polling well behind both parties at 12% support among voters.

Despite its federal losses, the party's provincial iterations still enjoy support and are the governing parties in British Columbia and Manitoba. Premier Wab Kinew of Manitoba has a 61% approval rate—the highest of any other Canadian premier.

Lewis was the frontrunner in the race and dominated his rivals in fundraising with C$1.2 million during his campaign.

Lewis can assume leadership of the party despite not holding a seat in the House of Commons, though he will be expected to run in the next federal election or in a by-election. He has run twice unsuccessfully in Vancouver, where he currently resides, in 2021 and 2025.

Earlier this month, Lori Idlout, an NDP MP from Nunavut, defected to Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals after endorsing Lewis as leader.

The NDP has a long history in Canada as a left-leaning political movement that catered to the working class. Its founder, Tommy Douglas, is largely credited with being the father of Canada's universal health care system.

Who is Avi Lewis?

Born in Toronto, Lewis is a former journalist who has hosted shows for Canada's public broadcaster the CBC, as well as Al Jazeera English. His family has a long history with the NDP; his grandfather and father both held leadership roles in the party.

Lewis describes himself as a veteran journalist, educator and activist who brings 35 years of movement-building experience to the NDP. He is married to Naomi Klein, a well-known author and filmmaker advocate.

In 2015, Lewis and Klein launched the Leap Manifesto, proposing broad changes to address climate change. He is critical of corporate practices and advocates for measures like a wealth tax and public housing initiatives.

His leadership approach is characterized by a focus on community empowerment and the creation of policies that address economic inequality, while he has faced criticism from within the party regarding his stance on oil and gas policies.

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