Avi Lewis's 'unrealistic' energy policies slammed by Prairie NDP leaders

· Toronto Sun

The selection of Avi Lewis as the new federal NDP leader was met with sharp criticism by some of his provincial counterparts in the Prairies.

Lewis, the son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis and the grandson of former federal leader David Lewis, claimed the party’s top job on the first ballot after the results were revealed Sunday at the federal NDP convention in Winnipeg.

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The former journalist, activist and filmmaker claimed 56% of the vote ahead of Heather McPherson (29%), Tanille Johnston (7%), Rob Ashton (6%) and Tony McQuail (1%).

While Avi Lewis was congratulated by the likes Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, her counterparts in Alberta and Saskatchewan signalled a need to mend fences with their provinces with Naheed Nenshi saying the federal party’s new direction is “not in the interests of Alberta.”

Lewis ‘openly cheered’ against Alberta NDP: Nenshi

Nenshi charged that Lewis “openly cheered” for the defeat of his party, adding that the province deserves “federal leaders who understand the importance of Alberta and our essential role in the federation.”

Lewis irked NDP supporters in Alberta, the Calgary Herald reported, after an old video surfaced earlier this month of him and his wife laughing over former Alberta environment minister Shannon Phillips losing her cabinet post in the Rachel Notley NDP government.

“Last year, Alberta’s New Democrats voted overwhelmingly to make membership in the federal party optional,” Nenshi said in a post on social media shortly after Lewis was named federal NDP leader. “Many thousands of our provincial members, including myself, are not members of the federal party.

“We are a big tent and welcome the support of people who vote for every federal party.”

Energy policies ‘ideological and unrealistic:’ Beck

Nenshi and Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck specifically took issue with Lewis’s stance on natural resources with Beck saying that the positions he has taken are “ideological and unrealistic.”

In a letter addressed to Lewis and dated Saturday, Beck said there are 40,000 direct and indirect jobs tied to natural resource development in the province and that his stance of being “unequivocally opposed” to new fossil fuel development “ignores the realities” in Saskatchewan and elsewhere in Canada.

“When you publicly reverse your decision on these matters and show a willingness to try to understand the realities of our province and the thousands of proud Saskatchewan workers who rely on our industries to feed their families, I will meet with you,” Beck said.

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Lewis addresses rift, says party’s ‘tent is growing’

The two NDP premiers in Western Canada, B.C.’s David Eby and Manitoba’s Wab Kinew, had yet to congratulate Lewis on social media, although Kinew took the stage to celebrate with Lewis during his victory speech.

Lewis seemed to address the rift with Nenshi and Beck in the speech, acknowledging differences between the federal and provincial parties.

“This party is united in our commitment to working people. And no, we will not always agree on every single issue,” Lewis said.

“But here’s the thing: Our debates are another sign that our party is back and our tent is growing. It’s big enough to hold some differences of opinion within it.”

Carney, Poilievre offer congratulations

Stiles was among those congratulating Lewis on his new post and said they are fighting for a Canada that “lifts people up, brings people together and builds a future for everyone.

“That’s what NDP oppositions fight for every day and it’s what NDP governments deliver,” she said on social media.

Prime Minister Mark Carney thanked interim NDP leader Don Davies for his time serving in that role while offering a congrats to Lewis as well, saying he looks “forward to speaking about how we can work together to keep delivering for Canadians.”

In a congratulatory post of his own, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he was looking forward to discussing something specific with Lewis: “Working to hold the Carney Liberals to account for the worst grocery price inflation and fastest-shrinking economy in the G7.

“We must make Canada affordable and safe for us all,” he said on social media.

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