Why Avi Lewis's NDP is eyeing Toronto for its rebuild
Avi Lewis and the federal NDP are focusing on Toronto as a key location to rebuild the party's influence following recent electoral setbacks. Lewis is advocating for policies such as rent control, affordable housing, and publicly run grocery stores to address the needs of everyday workers.
Why it matters
It highlights the strategic pivot of a political party attempting to regain relevance by focusing on urban economic grievances.
"The prime minister, who still enjoys considerable support, at the negotiating table has nonetheless pursued a very specific policy, which is that if you're a powerful corporation in Canada, you go to the front of line."
Lewis and his five NDP MPs met Tuesday in Toronto with union leaders, affordable housing advocates and leaders from the city's food banks.
With those stakeholders standing behind him at a news conference, Lewis said the government has enough money to spend billions building a new pipeline to the West Coast and make historic investments in Canada's military but not enough to address the concerns of ordinary Canadians.
"The government is fast-tracking corporate Canada's wish list, and calling it a plan to fight a trade war," Lewis said. "What we heard from people on the front lines of the emergency of everyday life in this expensive city is: where is the money for people?"
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