A former broadcaster should carefully take a look at his own message as he takes the reigns of one of Canada’s federal parties.
Avi Lewis is the new leader of the federal NDP, after taking more than 50% of the vote in the first ballot in a contest with five candidates.
Enthusiasm was running high in Winnipeg as his victory was announced in Winnipeg, but he faces a difficult road ahead including some opposition from his own party in two provinces.
Lewis will have to win a seat in parliament himself, which is not a given considering the NDP only have six seats across the country, after Nunavut MP Lori Idlout crossed the floor to join the Liberals earlier this month.
The leaders of the Alberta and Saskatchewan New Democrats also issued statements yesterday distancing themselves from Lewis over his opposition to
new pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals.
Lewis is openly trying to position the NDP as the social justice party again, branding his campaign as an “anti-capitalist movement,” including items like a national cap on rent, and a wealth tax and a heavy focus on environmental spending and a moratorium on artificial intelligence data centres.
His talking points are compelling and very persuasive in front of a sympathetic audience, but to win a national election he will need support from many sectors including some of the very provincial parties that share part of his logo and colour scheme.
In other words, not all oranges are the same and if you want everyone on board, be careful how you squeeze them.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlnes.
