Fresh off a decisive leadership win, Avi Lewis says the NDP is already “roaring back to life,” but he isn’t planning a run for the House anytime soon. 

Instead, he said he’ prioritizing talking directly with Canadians, promising to tour across the country to meet voters. 

“We’re going to meet with Canadians, where they work on the shop floor, where they live in communities — we’re going to keep touring and travelling the country,” Lewis said at his first press conference as NDP leader on Monday. 

“When the caucus and I feel that the party is at a point where I’m needed in the House of Commons, I will look for the first available, winnable seat and that moment is not now/”

Lewis won a first-ballot victory on Sunday with a platform built on affordability and a strong stance against fossil fuel development to address climate change. 

At the same press conference, Don Davies — who was serving as the interim leader prior to this weekend’s convention — said the caucus is “100 per cent united” behind Lewis, and vowed to present a truly progressive alternative in the Commons. 

“We have a team that’s ready to fight for the millions of people who have been left behind, not only by this liberal government, but by previous Liberal governments,” he said, framing the NDP as working against two versions of “Conservative party,” a hard-right iteration led by Pierre Poilievre and another that is “centre-right” led by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

“The New Democrats look forward to being a powerful voice for all those voters who do not see themselves reflected in those policies,” he added.

Fight brewing over energy policy?

Despite his victory on Sunday, Lewis’s energy and environmental policy sparked pushback from two provincial NDP leaders.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said Lewis’ views were inconsistent with his province, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck refused to meet with the new federal leader, unless he reversed his stances on the energy policy. 

When asked how he would navigate the differences, Lewis referenced his conversation with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who said disagreements within the party are part of being a “big tent.”

“We fully support those provincial sections, whatever ruffles in the family, my door is open and my hand out stretched to Carla to talk when she’s ready,” Lewis said. 

He added that “hard conversations” are necessary, citing Kinew’s point that the NDP doesn’t have to agree on everything in order to do “big things” together.  

Lewis re-emphasized that his focus on energy policy is on the workers. 

“The energy economy is extremely unstable,” Lewis said. “We think we need to accelerate the transition to a more stable, secure and safe economy and a more independent Canadian economy.” 

He also pitched a cross-country power grid as a way to create union jobs and energy independence, insisting workers need real alternatives before any transition away from fossil fuels. 

Where’s the cash?

As he’s not an MP, Lewis said he will be taking a salary from the party. 

As of March 2026, CBC reported that the NDP is carrying an approximate $13 million in debt, following the recent election cycles. The party’s latest financial filings show under $1 million in liabilities.

In response to the party debt, he said his campaign has raised almost half a million dollars for the party. 

“The fundraising challenge is real, but we are excited to embrace it and I think that part of getting election ready is retiring that debt as fast as possible,” Lewis said. 

It’s also one of the other reasons why he’s not entering the House at the first “available opportunity,” he added. 

Response to anti-semitism 

Lewis also drew sharp criticism over his comments on the Israel-Gaza conflict. During his victory speech on Sunday, he said that Israel is committing “genocide” and called for efforts to end it. 

When asked what his response is on this, Lewis, who is Jewish, said his views are rooted in his identity and a commitment to human rights and international law.

“I believe there’s a significant number of Canadian Jews who feel the way I do, and it’s been very welcome to feel so at home in the NDP, a party which has expressed moral clarity over the genocide in Gaza consistently as we express our outrage over the illegal attack on Iran, which is destabilizing our daily lives and geopolitics, and the world economy,” he said.