In the final stretch of the NDP leadership contest, Avi Lewis is facing renewed scrutiny over his previous activism. Despite the resurfacing of past controversies, Lewis’s campaign remains steadfast in its support of his decade-old vision, which has sparked both internal criticism and external attacks from opponents.
Recent social media sharing of an old video featuring Lewis and his spouse making light-hearted remarks about the Alberta NDP has drawn criticism. Detractors claim that Lewis’s advocacy for the Leap Manifesto, demonstrated by his disruptive 2016 federal New Democrat convention appearance, contributed to the downfall of Rachel Notley’s government.
Responding to the backlash, Lewis’s campaign spokesperson, Donya Ziaee, has accused rival campaigns of stirring up division and rehashing outdated disputes. Ziaee emphasized the current political climate as an opportunity for the NDP to embrace bold climate action, as outlined in the Leap Manifesto.
Although Lewis hails from a lineage of prominent NDP figures, his entrance onto the political stage was marked by his advocacy for the Leap Manifesto. This document, crafted by a diverse group including environmentalists and Indigenous rights advocates, called for a shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources to combat the climate crisis. While never officially adopted by the NDP, the manifesto’s principles were endorsed at the 2016 convention for further deliberation.
Critics, including former Alberta NDP minister Shannon Phillips, have lambasted Lewis for his perceived disregard for the party’s interests, particularly in resource-dependent regions. Phillips and other opponents have highlighted instances where Lewis and his spouse, Naomi Klein, appeared to mock Alberta NDP members in a video from 2020.
The ongoing debate over Lewis’s past activism and the Leap Manifesto underscores the internal struggle within the NDP over its ideological positioning. As the leadership race unfolds, the party grapples with questions of radicalism versus centrism, with bitterness lingering from the aftermath of the manifesto’s introduction in 2016.
Despite facing backlash and skepticism from some party members, Lewis remains committed to the vision outlined in the Leap Manifesto. The outcome of the leadership race, currently underway with voting in progress, will determine if the NDP membership aligns with Lewis’s longstanding principles. The new leader will be revealed at the upcoming party convention in Winnipeg.