Activist, filmmaker Avi Lewis launches campaign for federal NDP leadership

Filmmaker, activist and former journalist Avi Lewis launched his campaign to be the next federal leader of the NDP, taking aim not only at the Conservatives and Liberals, but Canada's corporations and CEOs.

In a video posted to his Facebook page, Lewis is shown walking toward the camera while wearing an untucked linen shirt against a background that flips between urban and nature settings. His monologue blames corporations, CEOs, free trade and past federal governments for the cost-of-living crisis facing Canadians today, and promises he has a plan to fix it.

That pitch includes an attack on free trade deals, which he says have "killed hundreds of thousands of jobs" and made Canada "vulnerable to U.S. bullying today."

Acknowledging the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, he says the causes of the affordability crisis are more complicated than just the actions of Canada's southern neighbour.

"There's an even bigger crisis, one that Donald Trump only magnifies: It's the everyday emergency of just trying to get by in an impossible economy," he said. "Working hard doesn't earn you a living."

Lewis says the cost of living can be blamed on the "billions in profits for the tiny group of corporations that control every part of our economy."

Without naming specific companies, Lewis says that cabal of companies is made up of three phone providers, three grocery giants, five oil companies and the "five big banks that fund them."

Lewis goes on to say that oil and gas CEOs are "hoarding extreme wealth" and "foreclosing on our shared future."

Promising a "green new deal" that will create thousands of good-paying jobs, Lewis says that while CEOs "are the money" Canadians are the "many."

In terms of policy, Lewis said he wants a wealth tax, a national cap on rent increases, a public option for groceries and health care that covers Canadians, from "medication to mental health"

The new leader will face the tough task of rebuilding the party in the wake of its worst electoral showing ever.

The NDP went into April's election with 24 MPs but limped away with only seven. The party lost incumbents in traditional strongholds, such as Hamilton and Windsor, Ont.

Former leader Jagmeet Singh announced his resignation on election night after he failed to win his own seat.

The poor result left the NDP with a reduced role in the House of Commons. A party needs 12 seats to be recognized in Parliament. Without party status, the NDP must now operate without certain perks that include being guaranteed a question in the daily question period, participation in committees and funding for the leader's office and research bureau.

Lewis, who lives on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast, is the grandson of former federal NDP leader David Lewis and the son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis.

He is married to author Naomi Klein. The two co-authored the Leap Manifesto, which advocates an end to the use of fossil fuels, including a moratorium on new infrastructure projects like pipelines. The principles of the manifesto were adopted by the NDP in 2016.

A former host on both Al Jazeera and CBC, Lewis has run for a federal seat twice before. In 2021 he ran in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, coming third with almost 26 per cent of the vote.

In 2025 he ran in Vancouver Centre, finishing third with 12.5 per cent of the vote.