Avi Lewis: New NDP Leader's Left Populism

Abby Lewis just snagged a leadership of Canada's new Democratic party, but he's not playing

the usual game.

Most winners shift to the center to grab more votes, yet this guy, a key player behind

the far left-leap manifesto from over 10 years back, is cranking up the left-wing populism

that fueled his win.

That means slamming fossil fuels hard and pushing bold ideas against big industries.

The NDPs in rough shape right now, they got crushed in the last federal election, down

to just six MPs with no official party status, piles of debt and polls showing only 6 percent.

Support nationwide.

A fresh sherbet from late March found just 32 percent of Canadians even see the party

as relevant, compared to 42 percent who don't.

Folks have split on this move.

Supporters call it a fresh spark for new ideas when people crave change, especially with

the center left wide open since liberals chase trade and infrastructure while conservatives

go populist right.

Six warn its suicidal, lowering the floor for a party already on life support, and old

riffs are flaring, like Saskatchewan's NDP boss refusing to.

Meet Louis over his anti-oil stance.

Louis is all in on left populism worldwide, eyeing wins like in New York and the UK Greens.

He's pitching wealth taxes, he pumps nationwide, public ownership of banks, telecoms, even

grocery chains to fight elite power.

But say he should grind on health care, childcare, debt payoff, and caucus unity first, while

provincial NDPs hold strong in places like British, Colombia and Manitoba.

The parties at an existential crossroads, but Louis talks like the comebacks underway.

No apologies for ditching the center drift.

With Trump threats fading maybe and liberal shapeshifting on prices, his fire could nudge

things left or bury the NDP deeper.

And at news today, powered by AI, bringing you what matters.

I'm Corey with The Story.