Newly elected federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis speaks as former interim leader Don Davies listens, at a press conference in Winnipeg on March 30, 2026. The Canadian Press/John Woods
Commentary
Canada’s federal NDP members had two paths to choose from after the last election. They could retain ideological purity even if it leaves them unelectable, or they could take a pragmatic stance and move to the middle in hopes of winning a significant parliamentary presence. With the performance they offered at their leadership convention and with the statements made by their newly crowned leader, Avi Lewis, it’s clear that the membership decided to take a sharp turn to the left.
