MONTREAL — Four months into his leadership role, NDP Leader Avi Lewis remains focused on preparing the party for upcoming elections rather than seeking a seat in the House of Commons. After winning the leadership of the NDP, which significantly lost seats in the 2025 federal election, Lewis has active plans for multiple byelections scheduled before the year's end. However, he has clarified that he will not be a candidate on any ballot during this period.

Lewis stated in a recent interview in Montreal’s Plateau neighborhood, “I think there will be a point in the next year where I feel we’re election-ready across the country. We want to run serious campaigns everywhere.” He emphasized the need for a litmus test in determining when it would be appropriate for him to pursue a seat, ideally aligning it with the upcoming election timeline.

Having unsuccessfully run in Vancouver ridings during both the 2021 and 2025 elections, Lewis has spent considerable time in Montreal, collaborating with NDP candidates Pierre Céré and Nima Machouf, who are contesting in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie and Laurier-Ste-Marie ridings, respectively. For his French immersion training, Lewis has enrolled in daily one-on-one lessons held in a local Presbyterian church, dedicating himself to improving his communication skills in French, particularly for political contexts.

While his lessons often involve dissecting his interviews for pronunciation and phrasing, there was encouraging feedback from his teacher following a recent Radio-Canada interview where he was commended for his command of the language. The NDP is strategically working to retain the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie seat currently held by Independent Alexandre Boulerice, who has left the NDP to pursue a political career in Quebec, while former Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault is set to resign from his MP role in Laurier-Ste-Marie.

Lewis is acutely aware of his party's historical context. He noted Jack Layton's impactful appearance on "Tout le monde en parle" during the 2011 campaign, hoping to replicate that success in Quebec. Following last year’s election, where the NDP was reduced to just seven seats in the House of Commons, Lewis faces challenges with a significantly weakened caucus. Current dynamics have led to no representation on parliamentary committees, limiting the party's influence.

As Lewis analyzes the political landscape, he attributes the NDP's previous losses to widespread anxiety related to U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and subsequent fears regarding Prime Minister Mark Carney's leadership approach. He suggests there may be a shift in sentiment among former New Democrats who opted for the Liberals in 2025, as they express dissatisfaction with Carney's policies on artificial intelligence, military spending, and fossil fuel reliance amidst climate emergencies.

Recent polling data indicates a potential shift among voters, with one in six 2025 Liberal voters signaling support for the NDP, particularly driven by concerns around climate change. Lewis aims to tap into the progressive sentiments within Montreal's ridings, advocating for positions on contentious issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and promoting green energy initiatives.

After his time in Montreal, Lewis plans to visit the Toronto riding of Beaches-East York and North Vancouver-Capilano, where byelections will also take place. While no candidates have been announced for these ridings yet, Lewis indicated that campaign volunteers are actively canvassing in preparation for the upcoming votes.

These byelections represent a crucial moment for Lewis, as they will test his assertion that the NDP is regaining lost ground in key constituencies. Notably, he sees potential for attracting younger voters, a demographic that has previously shifted towards the Conservatives, as they face challenges relating to housing affordability and climate change.

Lewis expressed optimism about exciting young Canadians to participate in the electoral process, recognizing that higher voter turnout among this group could yield unexpected results in byelections or the next general election. He aims to illustrate the NDP's ability to draw votes away from both Conservative and Liberal Party candidates, challenging the long-held belief that voting for the NDP merely aids Conservative victories.

This comprehensive strategy revolves around re-establishing the NDP as a viable alternative for voters who are disillusioned with the current political climate, reinforcing its position as a relevant and progressive force in Canadian politics.