Lewis's Quebec Push: NDP's Revival Hope

0:00Avey Lewis just clinched the leadership of Canada's federal new Democrats with 56% on the first ballot. Right away, he pulled aside Aleksandre Bollaris, the party's lone MP from Quebec in Rosemont, La Petite Patrie, and urged him to stick around instead, of jumping to Quebec, Solidare. Quebec used to be an NDP hotspot back in 2011, with the orange crush under Jack Layton sending 59 MPs to Ottawa. Now the party's down to just six seats nationwide, and Bollaris is their only foothold East of Manitoba, after a rough stretch, including leadership. Hofuls fumbling French in a Montreal debate. Bollaris said the heart to heart at the Winnipeg Convention touched him deeply, even if it was in English. He rates Lewis's French as the best among candidates, but not perfect. Lewis owns that and vows to step it up, plus dive into Quebec's history and culture by visiting regions and chatting with Lewis. Lewis pitched ideas like public grocery and telecom options, plus huge social housing pushes, which Bollaris thinks could click with Quebec's.

1:04Progressive voters, still, Bollaris is weighing his options with Quebec's Solidare and plans to decide in the coming weeks. As the NDP eyes a rebound against the potentially conservative Prime Minister Mark Carney, Lewis's Quebec push could make or break there. Revival, Bollaris, staying, might just be the spark they need. That wraps Canada News today, brought to you with AI.