Avi Lewis
Lewis in 2025
Leader of the New Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 29, 2026
Deputy Alexandre Boulerice
Preceded by Don Davies (interim)
Personal details
Born Avram David Lewis
May 1967 (age 58)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Party New Democratic
Spouse
Naomi Klein
​
(m. 1998)​
Children 1[1]
Parents
  • Stephen Lewis
  • Michele Landsberg
Relatives Lewis family
Alma mater University College, Toronto (BA)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • journalist
  • broadcaster
  • filmmaker
  • academic
  • video jockey
  • activist
Website lewisforleader.ca Edit this at Wikidata

Avram David "Avi" Lewis (born May 1967) is a Canadian politician and filmmaker who has served as leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) since 2026.

Raised in a political family, Lewis began his career in broadcasting, hosting several programs for Citytv, CBC News and Al Jazeera English including The NewMusic, CounterSpin, On the Map with Avi Lewis, The Big Picture with Avi Lewis, and Fault Lines. With his wife Naomi Klein, Lewis directed the documentaries The Take and This Changes Everything. Along with Klein and several other activists, Lewis launched the Leap Manifesto in 2015. Lewis was also an associate professor at the University of British Columbia and a lecturer at Rutgers University.

Lewis first became involved in politics with the Leap Manifesto in the 2010s. He later ran as an NDP candidate in the 2021 and 2025 federal elections, placing third each time. He was elected the party's leader in March 2026 on the first ballot, with 56 percent of the vote.

Early life and education

Avram David Lewis was born in May 1967[2] in Toronto, Ontario, where he was raised. Lewis is the great-grandson of Mojżesz Łoś (Moishe Losz), better known in Canada as Morris Lewis, an outspoken Polish member of the Jewish Bund, who left Europe amid shifting borders and was threatened by the Bolsheviks for his political activity. Moishe arrived in Montreal in 1921, with his wife Rose and three children. Avi's grandfather David Lewis was the leader of the NDP from 1971 to 1975, and his father Stephen Lewis was the leader of the Ontario NDP from 1970 to 1978 and served as the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988. Stephen died on March 31, 2026, two days following Avi's election as federal NDP leader.[3] His mother is journalist and author Michele Landsberg. Lewis has two siblings: casting director Jenny Lewis and human rights activist Ilana Landsberg-Lewis.[4]

Lewis attended Jarvis Collegiate Institute and Upper Canada College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from University College at the University of Toronto in 1988.[5][6]

Career

Early broadcasting career

Between 1996 and 1998, Lewis was the host of The NewMusic, a music magazine show on MuchMusic and Citytv. He also served as MuchMusic's political specialist, doing extensive special events coverage for the channel, covering the 1993 Canadian federal election and the 1995 Quebec referendum.[7] Lewis won a Gemini Award for Best Event Coverage. He also worked for Bell Media's CP24.[8]

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

From 1998 to 2001, he hosted CBC Newsworld's current affairs discussion show CounterSpin, where he presided over 500 debates. He was later the host of Counterspin Sunday. Lewis began hosting The Big Picture with Avi Lewis in the autumn of 2006 and On the Map in 2007. In the latter program, Lewis conducted interviews with Ayaan Hirsi Ali and John Bolton, among others.[9][10] He was a panellist on Canada Reads, which aired from March 2 to 6, 2009, where he presented, and successfully defended, the winning book, Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes.[11]

In June 2007, CBC Newsworld debuted On the Map with Avi Lewis, a daily (Monday to Thursday) half-hour of international news commentary. On the Map's half-hour time slot was replaced with a half-hour summary of the daily hour-long show Politics by Don Newman.[12] During the same time period on CBC Television, The Hour, hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos aired.[13][14][15]

Al Jazeera

Inside USA was first telecast on Al Jazeera English on February 8, 2008, with the episode "Politics of Race". Al Jazeera describes Inside USA as "an in-depth look at the real issues at stake in the US presidential election."[16] "Politics Of Race", released on February 22, 2008, focused on the situation in New Orleans and the disenfranchisement of Black voters.[17][18] "Native Americans", released on March 1, 2008, focused on Lakota Sioux separatism and the social and economic issues surrounding the Lakota Sioux, Navajo and the Shoshone peoples.[19][20] The last few minutes were devoted to the role online videos play in US elections, including a clip from "Yes We Can".

Following the presidential election, Lewis became a co-host of Fault Lines in 2009, a program known for investigative storytelling examining the United States and its role in the world.[21]

Documentary films

Lewis in 2016

In 2004, Lewis and his wife Naomi Klein collaborated on The Take, a documentary that detailed the "recovered factory" movement in Argentina. The Take, winner of the International Jury Prize at the American Film Institute festival, was nominated for four Gemini Awards. Collaboration between Lewis, Klein, and Brendan Martin led to the creation of The Working World/La Bas foundation,[22] a non-profit microcredit aimed at cooperatives active in the United States and Argentina.[22]

From October 8 to 18, 2007, Lewis hosted the ten-part international documentary series Why Democracy? in Canada.[23]

Lewis directed the 2015 feature-length documentary This Changes Everything,[24] which finished second in the audience voting, for the documentary category, at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.[25]

With his organization, The Leap, Lewis co-wrote a short film titled A Message from the Future with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2019. It was nominated for Outstanding News Analysis: Editorial and Opinion at the 41st News and Documentary Emmy Awards. A sequel, titled Message from the Future II: The Years of Repair was also co-written by Lewis and was released in 2020 by The Intercept.[26][27][28][29]

Academics and journalism

He was a journalism and media studies lecturer at Rutgers University in New Jersey and an associate professor in the geography department of the University of British Columbia, where he taught courses on social and political change, communication and documentary filmmaking.[30][31]

He is also a contributor to news sites, including The Breach.[32][33]

Political beginnings

Lewis has been described as a "loud and proud eco-socialist",[34] a "self-declared democratic socialist"[35] and a "a longtime figure in progressive politics".[36]

An active member of the NDP, he was speculated as a potential candidate in the 2017 leadership election, but declined to run.[37] Lewis supports shifting the NDP further to the left,[38] endorsing and campaigning for several progressive candidates in internal NDP elections, such as Anjali Appadurai in the 2022 BC NDP leadership election.[39]

In May 2021, Lewis was nominated as the NDP's candidate for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, British Columbia for the 2021 Canadian federal election,[40][41] which was subsequently called for September 20, 2021.[42] Lewis' run for federal parliament was endorsed by environmentalist David Suzuki,[43][44] actress Jane Fonda,[44][45] playwright Eve Ensler,[46] folk singer and activist Billy Bragg,[47] and biologist Alexandra Morton.[48] He received 25.63% of the vote, the NDP's best result in the riding, but still came in third behind incumbent Liberal Patrick Weiler and Conservative John Weston.[49]

In September 2024, Lewis was acclaimed as the NDP candidate in Vancouver Centre for the 2025 Canadian federal election. He placed third, behind incumbent Liberal Hedy Fry and Conservative Elaine Allan, as the NDP lost the majority of its seats in the House of Commons and official party status.[50]

Leap Manifesto

In September 2015, Lewis, Naomi Klein, and others launched the Leap Manifesto, which proposed broad changes to Canadian society and economics in order to respond to climate change through a policy framework that also addressed issues of wealth and income inequality, racism, and colonialism in hopes of influencing the policy debate during the 2015 Canadian federal election campaign.[51][52] The oil and gas provisions within the manifesto were criticized by Rachel Notley's Alberta NDP government. In 2016, Lewis spearheaded a motion at the NDP's federal convention in Edmonton, Alberta, which would have had the party endorse the manifesto. In the end, the motion was amended to refer the manifesto to constituency associations for debate. Lewis and other manifesto signatories launched an organization to promote the manifesto's vision in 2017, called The Leap, which operated until 2021 and was a key convenor of Canada's Pact for a Green New Deal in 2019.[53]

Leader of the New Democratic Party (2026–present)

2026 leadership campaign

Lewis was a candidate in the 2026 NDP leadership election. He launched his campaign on September 19, 2025, being the first candidate approved to run. He held his campaign launch in Toronto.[54] His policies include establishing a Canadian Green New Deal, supporting Palestinian rights, creating a "public option" for groceries, building public housing, implementing a moratorium on AI data centre construction[55], and expanding healthcare access.[56][57]

By the end of December 2025, his campaign claimed to have raised nearly $783,000.[58] By the end of January 2026, it was reported that his campaign had raised over $1,000,000.[59] During the campaign period, Lewis was endorsed by current and former MPs Libby Davies, Leah Gazan, and Svend Robinson, and former provincial politicians including Gary Burrill and Flor Marcelino. At the end of the campaign, it was reported that he had raised $1.5 million with over 11,000 donors.[60]

Tenure

On March 29, 2026, he was elected party leader on the first ballot, with 39,734 votes (56.02%).[61] Afterwards, Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi and Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck criticized the federal party's oil and gas policy under Lewis. Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles, Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew, Nova Scotia NDP leader Claudia Chender, Newfoundland and Labrador NDP leader Jim Dinn, Yukon NDP leader Kate White, and BC NDP leader David Eby congratulated Lewis on his victory.[62] He is the first NDP leader to have never previously held elected office.[63]

Personal life

Lewis is married to journalist and author Naomi Klein. The couple have one son, Toma.[64]

He was featured on the November 20, 2001, Life & Times episode of "The Lewis Family".[65] Lewis' genealogical search was featured on the January 31, 2008, episode of the CBC's Who Do You Think You Are?[66]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result Refs
1995 Gemini Awards Best Special Event Coverage Election Night '93 Won
1996 Gemini Awards Holy Macro Economics Taxman! – Budget '95 (as producer) Nominated
1999 Gemini Awards Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Talk/General Information Program or Series CounterSpin (as host) Nominated
2000 Gemini Awards Nominated
2001 Gemini Awards Nominated
2004 International Documentary Association Awards Feature Documentaries The Take Nominated
American Film Institute Festival Awards International Jury Prize Won [67]
2005 Gemini Awards Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program The Take (as producer) Nominated
Best Direction in a Documentary Program Nominated
2015 Toronto International Film Festival Awards People's Choice Award: Documentaries This Changes Everything Runner-up
CPH:DOX Awards Politiken Audience Award Nominated
F:ACT Award Nominated
2016 Docville Awards ConScience Award Won [68]
2020 News and Documentary Emmy Awards Outstanding News Analysis: Editorial and Opinion A Message from the Future With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (as co-executive producer) Nominated [69]

Works

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1996–1998 The NewMusic Himself/host
1998–2001 CounterSpin
2006 The Big Picture with Avi Lewis
2007 On the Map with Avi Lewis
2008 Inside USA
2009 Canada Reads Himself/panelist
2009–2010 Fault Lines Himself/host

Film

Year Title Director Writer Executive Producer Actor/narrator Role Notes
2004 The Take Yes No No Yes Himself
2007 Why Democracy? No No No Yes
2009 The Shock Doctrine No No Yes No
2015 This Changes Everything Yes Yes Yes No
2019 A Message from the Future with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez No Yes Yes No Short film
2020 Message from the Future II: The Years of Repair No Yes No No Short film

Electoral record

Summary

Electoral history of Avi Lewis — Constituency elections
Year Type Riding Party Votes for Lewis Result Swing
Total % P. ±%
2021 Federal election West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—
Sea to Sky Country		 New Democratic 16,265 25.63% 3rd +11.74 Lost Hold
2025 Vancouver Centre 6,807 12.49% 3rd −18.25 Lost Hold

Leadership elections

2026 New Democratic Party leadership election
Candidate First ballot
Votes %
Avi Lewis 39,734 56.02%
Heather McPherson 20,899 29.46%
Tanille Johnston 5,159 7.27%
Rob Ashton 4,193 5.91%
Tony McQuail 945 1.33%
Total valid votes 70,930 99.99%
Rejected ballots 4 0.01%
Turnout 70,934 70.55%
Eligible voters 100,542
Source: New Democratic Party[70][71]
  • v
  • t
  • e

Federal elections

  • v
  • t
  • e
2025 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 29,855 54.79 +14.35
Conservative Elaine Allan 16,368 30.04 +8.42
New Democratic Avi Lewis 6,807 12.49 –18.25
Green Scott MacDonald 757 1.39 –2.54
People's Christopher Varga 211 0.39 -2.88
Independent Drew William McPherson 63 0.12 N/A
Total valid votes/expense limit 54,061 99.23 — $131,689.42
Total rejected ballots 422 0.77 −0.03
Turnout 54,483 63.52
Eligible voters 85,775
Liberal notional hold Swing +2.99
Source: Elections Canada[72][73][74]
  • v
  • t
  • e
2021 Canadian federal election: West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Patrick Weiler 21,500 33.88 -1.01 $107,414.31
Conservative John Weston 19,062 30.04 +3.33 $123,189.13
New Democratic Avi Lewis 16,265 25.63 +11.74 $117,546.51
Green Mike Simpson 4,108 6.47 -15.97 $35,992.60
People's Doug Bebb 2,299 3.62 +2.08 $26,851.53
Rhinoceros Gordon Jeffrey 98 0.15 -0.12 $0.00
Independent Chris MacGregor 77 0.12 $0.00
Independent Terry Grimwood 50 0.08 -0.16 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 63,459 – – $131,270.20
Total rejected ballots 279
Turnout 64.6%
Eligible voters 98,256
Liberal hold Swing -2.17
Source: Elections Canada[75]

References

  1. ^ Congratulations to Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis on the birth of their son – Democracy Now!
  2. ^ "The political siren finally blares for Avi Lewis". TVO. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Stephen Lewis, social activist and former politician, dead at 88 - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  4. ^ "Michele Landsberg celebrates 70 years". Now, July 15, 2009.
  5. ^ "Avi Lewis". www.uc.utoronto.ca. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Alumni in the arts Archived September 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "CBC.ca – Program Guide – Personalities". Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  8. ^ "Avi Lewis". January 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "On the Map with Avi Lewis: Ayaan Hirsi Ali & Islamophobia". YouTube. June 13, 2007.
  10. ^ "On the Map with Avi Lewis: The Chavez Mystique". YouTube. June 27, 2007.
  11. ^ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation We have a winner for Canada Reads 2009! – The Book of Negroes By Lawrence Hill. cbc.ca Canada Reads. Archived December 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ CBC.ca Politics
  13. ^ On The Map with Avi Lewis CBC.ca Archived July 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ The Big Picture with Avi Lewis CBC.ca Archived September 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "The Take official website". Archived from the original on February 26, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  16. ^ "Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008.
  17. ^ Inside USA – Politics of Race – 22 Feb 08 – Pt 1, YouTube
  18. ^ Inside USA – Politics of Race – 22 Feb 08 – Pt 2, YouTube
  19. ^ AlJazeeraEnglish (March 4, 2008). "Inside USA – Native Americans – 01 Mar 08 – Part 1". YouTube. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  20. ^ AlJazeeraEnglish (March 4, 2008). "Inside USA – Native Americans – 01 Mar 08 – Part 2". YouTube. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  21. ^ "Biography: Avi Lewis".
  22. ^ a b Magnani, Esteban (2009) The Silent Change pp.148–9
  23. ^ "Why Democracy?: Host, Avi Lewis". CBC Newsworld. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  24. ^ Steve Gravestock. "This Changes Everything (programme note)". TIFF. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  25. ^ "Toronto International Film Festival Announces 2015 Award Winners" (PDF) (Press release). TIFF. September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  26. ^ "The Leap | Message from the Future | Legacy Website".
  27. ^ "A Message from the Future with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez". April 17, 2019.
  28. ^ "A Message from the Future II: The Years of Repair". October 2020.
  29. ^ "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal: The Canadian Connection".
  30. ^ "Avi Lewis – Centre for Climate Justice Avi Lewis %".
  31. ^ "Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis join UBC Geography faculty". University of British Columbia. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  32. ^ Wright Allen, Samantha. The Hill Times, "The Breach, new media outlet to launch this spring." 12 April 2021.
  33. ^ "About The Breach". Breach Media Canada. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  34. ^ Mohamed, Rahim (March 27, 2026). "Avi Lewis could be set for a big NDP leadership win, but remains polarizing within the party".
  35. ^ Ramzy, Mark (March 28, 2026). "Avi Lewis previews his leadership vision as New Democrats express mix of unease, excitement". Toronto Star. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  36. ^ Aiello, Rachel (March 27, 2026). "The federal NDP is about to elect a new leader. Is it Avi Lewis's race to lose?". CTVNews. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  37. ^ "Avi Lewis rules out run for NDP leadership, says Leap Manifesto still 'going strong'". CBC Radio. September 17, 2016.
  38. ^ Rosenberg, Jäger (May 2, 2025). "I Ran for the NDP and Lost. We Need to Change". The Tyee. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  39. ^ "Avi Lewis (@avilewis) on X". X (formerly Twitter).
  40. ^ "Film producer Avi Lewis named as NDP candidate in B.C. riding". National Post. May 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  41. ^ "Filmmaker, activist Avi Lewis to run for federal NDP seat in B.C. riding". CTVNews. May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  42. ^ "Canada is headed for a federal election on Sept. 20". CBC News. August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  43. ^ Seyd, Jane (September 3, 2021). "David Suzuki offers heavyweight help to NDP's climate candidate in West Vancouver Sunshine Coast Sea-to-Sky". North Shore News. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  44. ^ a b Stefanovich, Olivia. "Climate activist Avi Lewis aims to leave mark on NDP despite running in long-odds riding". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. CBC News. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  45. ^ Raycraft, Richard (September 12, 2021). "Leaders find ways to make voters laugh and smile in a gloomy campaign". CBC News. Retrieved September 15, 2021. "I'm excited that Canada will have Avi Lewis representing you — and a little jealous too," she said, perhaps prematurely, in an endorsement video.
  46. ^ Lewis, Avi. "V (formerly Eve Ensler) is a dear friend, mentor, and artist-comrade. Her words make me want to fight harder. #GlobalGreenNewDeal". Twitter. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  47. ^ "Billy Bragg – "Waiting for the Leap Manifesto"". YouTube. September 6, 2021.
  48. ^ Morton, Alexandra. "Why I support @NDP candidate @avilewis for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky MP. #cdnpoli #Elxn44 #WestVancouver #SunshineCoast". Twitter. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  49. ^ Richter, Brent (September 23, 2021). "Elections Canada confirms Weiler wins West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country". North Shore News.
  50. ^ "Avi Lewis acclaimed as NDP candidate in Vancouver Centre". The Hill Times. September 4, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  51. ^ Chen, Michael (September 15, 2015). "'Leap manifesto' backed by prominent NDPers, actors, activists calls for upending of capitalist system". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  52. ^ The Leap (October 5, 2016). "The Leap Manifesto: One Year Later". theleap.org. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  53. ^ "Hitting the road for a Green New Deal". The Leap. May 10, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  54. ^ Kirkup, Kristy (April 29, 2025). "Federal NDP looks toward rebuilding party, with leadership race on horizon". Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  55. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/avi-lewis-ndp-ai-artificial-intelligence-9.7057161
  56. ^ "Ideas & Policies".
  57. ^ Ramzy, Mark (September 16, 2025). "Heather McPherson, Avi Lewis prepare NDP leadership bids". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  58. ^ "NDP leadership candidates sprint to final fundraising, membership deadlines".
  59. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-leadership-race-membership-deadline-9.7063896
  60. ^ "Endorsements".
  61. ^ Durrani, Temur (March 29, 2026). "Federal NDP elect filmmaker Avi Lewis as new leader". The Globe and Mail. Winnipeg. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via Apple News.
  62. ^ Major, Darren (March 29, 2026). "The NDP has a new leader. What does Avi Lewis's arrival mean for the party?". CBC News.
  63. ^ Mohamed, Rahim (March 29, 2026). "Avi Lewis wins NDP leadership, will lead party into uncertain future". National Post.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  64. ^ "Naomi Klein". Facebook.com. March 5, 2012.
  65. ^ CBC: Life And Times Archived May 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  66. ^ Who Do You Think You Are? | Stories | Avi Lewis Archived January 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  67. ^ "The Take (2004) – Awards – IMDb". IMDb.
  68. ^ "This Changes Everything (2015) – Awards – IMDb". IMDb.
  69. ^ "Nominees announced for the 41st annual news & documentary Emmy awards" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2020.
  70. ^ "Avi Lewis elected Leader of NDP". New Democratic Party. Winnipeg. March 29, 2026. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  71. ^ Raj, Althia (March 29, 2026). "Avi Lewis is the new leader of the NDP". Toronto Star.
  72. ^ "Voter information service". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  73. ^ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". Elections Canada. May 3, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  74. ^ "Final Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Elections Canada. April 22, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  75. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2021.