Avi Lewis’s Vision for Change in Canadian Politics

While standing outside the House of Commons, Avi Lewis remembered that it’s been fifty years since his grandfather – former federal NDP leader David Lewis – was in this chamber fighting for the Canadian left.

After David came Avi’s father, Stephen Lewis, who led the Ontario NDP and served as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations. He was also a longtime journalist and environmental advocate. Sadly, he passed away last month at 88, just after his son became the federal NDP leader.

Now, it’s Avi Lewis’s moment to step up. Choosing to go federal is a very deliberate decision.

“I think things are so deeply, grindingly unfair and bad and getting worse that we need fundamental structural changes and I’m interested in trying that,” Lewis said.

“It’s an experiment to see if politics can accommodate that kind of worldview, but it can only happen at the federal level. The federal government is the only level of government that has the resources and capacity and the levers to change the field of play.”

This week, Lewis visited Parliament Hill for the first time since taking over as NDP leader. CBC’s The House gave him a tour of West Block – home to the House of Commons – while he explained what his “experiment” will entail.

LISTEN | NDP Leader Avi Lewis details his political ‘experiment’ to CBC’s The House:

The House20:07The new kid at school

Catherine Cullen gives new NDP leader Avi Lewis a tour of Parliament – a place he hadn’t seen in more than 15 years – while hearing about his goals in the House of Commons and why he thinks Canada has lost “a sense of elevated purpose” in politics.

Promoting socialism in Canada

If you ask Lewis why it’s important for him to call his views “socialism,” he’ll say: “It’s not. It’s just accurate.”

“I don’t foreground ideology when I talk about politics,” Lewis said. “I know what I am and I don’t see any need to hide it. I also think socialism is really having a comeback in North America.”

He pointed out some current socialist figures like U. S. lawmakers Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani – whom Lewis describes as “a truly inspiring figure.”

Lewis stands outside the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday. (Jennifer Chevalier/CBC)

A policy idea that both Lewis and Mamdani support is public grocery stores. According to Lewis, some experts from Mamdani’s team helped design this proposal which goes beyond just a pilot project.

“We’re talking about an alternative national procurement network where the federal government uses its truly national reach – federal institutions, like school programs – to really expand” and compete with large grocery chains, said Lewis.

The NDP leader added that these stores wouldn’t stock an overwhelming number of products. While major grocery stores can have tens of thousands of items, Lewis envisions supermarkets with about 1,500 to 2,000 products.

“So they’re full-fledged grocery stores but they don’t offer an absurd level of choice which frankly slows down my shopping,” Lewis told host Catherine Cullen.

WATCH | Breaking down whether government-owned grocery stores could work in Canada:

Are city-owned grocery stores an answer to sky-high supermarket prices?

A grassroots campaign driven by progressive ideas helped Zohran Mamdani achieve a significant win in New York City’s mayoral primary election. Policy analyst Vass Bednar believes one such idea-government-owned grocery stores-might be feasible in Canada.

On Wednesday, the NDP put forward a motion aimed at banning so-called surveillance pricing where businesses charge different prices based on consumers’ personal data; however, this motion was voted down.

Experts have told it’s tough to determine how prevalent this practice actually is; others suggest it could be considered deceptive marketing tactics. Some businesses have informed Canada’s Competition Bureau that this practice may help them provide lower prices for consumers.

On social media, Lewis called surveillance pricing “a dystopian practice that will drive up costs for Canadians if we allow it to take root.”

When asked why he believes Canadians will embrace these proposals after their recent electoral defeat , Lewis stated that previous ideas weren’t presented before now.

“We are providing solutions that would actually solve these problems. And we believe we can cut through all distractions because nobody else-the other parties-aren’t offering real solutions,”Lewis explained.

Revitalizing The Party

The current NDP group within Parliament consists solely of six MPs-and it’s uncertain when exactly they’ll attempt adding more members.

Lewis expressed enthusiasm regarding securing a seat , noting he doesn’t think Prime Minister Carney will hold onto power long due primarily due Marilyn Gladu being pivotal member within caucus.

“It’s precarious majority , so we’ll see what happens. I’m focused on preparing our party for elections which involves fundraising efforts plus building our base across ridings”, said Lewis.

Lewis speaks during news conference alongside his colleagues inside Parliament Hill located Ottawa. Monday.(Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

“I’ve got tiny yet mighty caucus.. and they’ve encouraged me stay out there”. The calculations shift constantly though it’s not imminent now.”

Lewis admitted needing expansion among Canadians democracy considering their six seats throughout Corner House Of Commons.”But that’s not something we tackle tomorrow.. my priority lies establishing foundations.”

The N D P leader ruled out accepting floor-crossers statingthat MPS must resign then pursue byelection run if wanting join another team

.

When queried regarding possibilityof anyother N D P members switching allegiance towards Liberals- like Nunavut MP Lori Idlout did last month -Lewis assuredthegroup remainsstrong.”Every singlemember lookedmeintheeye saying ‘I’mstayingput’.”

A Return To A Different Style Of Politics

Lewissaidit feels movingto bewithin Parliament Hillwhichreinforceshow crucial MPsworkforthe Canadianpeople, muchofwhichgoes unseen onscreen.

Iabsolutelysenseas Canadiannesswe’relosingconnectionwithpoliticsthatmatchesbothour daily experiencesandalsoanambitioussenseof purposeinpolitics”, said Lewis.

Lewis jokedaboutteasinghis dad“relentlesslyfordecades”aboutbeingfriendswithformerprime minister Brian Mulroney, but Stephen Lewisand Mulroneysharedadeepbondwhile working togetheragainstapartheidin South Africa.

Then-prime minister Brian Mulroney, left, andformer Ontario N DPleader Stephen Lewis, new Canadianambassadorto UNmeetinside Parliament Hilllocated Ottawa. Ont., Nov01/84, beforeleavingfor New York.(John Major/Canadian Press)

‘That’sthesenseofpurposeavailabletothepoliticalarena seldomobserved nowadays’, remarked Lewis.”

The N D P leadertookituponthemselvesbringingbackhis father’svaluesinto Canadiangovernmentrealizingthe torchpassedtomein Winnipeguponwinningleadershiprace.”

I lost mydadandnowthismissionseemsclearer, strongerthaneverbefore. Thiscountrycarriesrichresources. Life shouldn’tbe thistough. Myfathergrandparentsdedicatedtheir lives toward makingexistencefairerfor Canadians, timeforthemto handoff responsibilityto me now.”

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