Avi Lewis Wins NDP Leadership, Vowing to Tax the Wealthy

Introduced at the Winnipeg convention by his wife, author Naomi Klein, Lewis framed his victory as a call to renew the fight against corporate dominance. He aims to implement a wealth tax on the richest 1% of Canadians—a group holding $1.25 trillion in assets—to fund expanded healthcare, public housing, and green energy. Lewis argues that Canada is currently "awash in wealth," citing the $70 billion in annual bank profits and the vast fortunes of industry titans like Galen Weston as proof that the country can afford robust public services.

Rebuilding a Fractured Party

Lewis faces an uphill climb to restore the NDP, which plummeted to just seven seats in the last federal election under former leader Jagmeet Singh. Despite current polling placing the party at roughly 7% support, Lewis contends that his platform, particularly the expansion of universal healthcare to include dental and mental health, remains broadly popular. He sharply criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, accusing the Liberals of mirroring the austerity and militarism associated with "Trumpism" while failing to regulate artificial intelligence or fossil fuel expansion. Lewis insists that by positioning the party as a clear alternative to the current establishment, the NDP can regain the trust of working-class voters and return to national relevance.