Our party was born out of a movement of farmers, trade unionists, and feminists in an era where fascism was knocking on the door, and social solidarity was essential to resisting its rise. Together, this coalition of movements represented a new option to serve the interests of everyday Canadians rather than that of endless corporate greed in the House of Commons.
And now, we are in a moment in time that is frighteningly similar to that of the origins of our party. In the face of global instability and threats to our sovereignty and democracy, we cannot accept austerity budgets, trampling of Indigenous rights for fossil fuel projects, and a government that refuses to condemn violations of international law. We need a strong NDP now more than ever.
It’s no secret that the previous federal election was a difficult one for New Democrats. Yet, through this loss, we have an opportunity to reflect on what went wrong and create something new.
Today, I’m proud to release our campaign’s party renewal plan – A Political Instrument of the People.
We can transform our party into a year-round organizing machine that is deeply rooted in communities. One that builds power not just in the form of political representation in the House of Commons, but is the voice of hardworking Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
A Political Instrument of the People means we will:
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Make membership matter – Empower our members and riding associations with trust, tools, and funding opportunities for their communities. Strengthen our party’s regional and equity commissions. Govern with transparency and open communications. Fundraise with gratitude and respect. |
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Build power to win change and elections – Create a culture of year-round organizing. Increase training frequency and accessibility, ideally in person. Nominate candidates early and review vetting processes and timelines. Demand an end to First Past the Post elections and the establishment of a Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform. |
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Have a clear path to victory with a big tent – Foster a broad coalition of support across movements and our geographical diversity. Grow our party in the suburbs through deep investment in community. Dedicate concrete efforts to rural, remote, and Northern ridings. Build towards a second orange wave in Québec through policies and practices that honour the distinct role Québec plays in Canada and an understanding of its unique politics, culture, and history. Support youth leadership development and opportunities within our party and engage in concrete outreach efforts to reconnect with young people. |
I know that through reforms in our party, empowering our members, and dedicated efforts to talk to Canadians we have never reached before, we can be a powerful force in electoral politics once again.
Our party has faced difficult times before. There’s no question that we are in one of those times now, but I know that our best days are still ahead of us.
Together, we can build the biggest tent the NDP has ever seen: a true party of the 99%. Join us.
With hope and gratitude,
Avi Lewis
Advance polls are now open for the NDP Leadership. NDP Convention is Mar.27-29, 2026, in Winnipeg, Manitoba
