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Hailing from one of the most prominent families in progressive Canadian politics, Lewis has long held a reputation as a maverick force on the left flank of the party. His grandfather is David Lewis, a founder of the NDP, and his parents are former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis and longtime journalist Michele Landsberg. He, his wife, author Naomi Klein, and co-author Martin Lukacs rocked the party in 2015 when they launched the Leap Manifesto, which dominated internal debate with its call to stop new fossil fuel infrastructure.

A long-time climate activist, a former broadcaster at CBC and Al Jazeera and an instructor at the University of British Columbia, Lewis ran twice unsuccessfully for Parliament in Vancouver, where he lives, including in this year’s election, where the NDP was reduced to seven seats. 

In a recent interview with the Star, Lewis called for national rent control, public options for grocery stores and expanding public health care, policies that could be central to his campaign. He also criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plans to drastically increase military spending while cutting government spending.

“The lane is so open for the NDP, with the Conservatives and Liberals collaborating on a national agenda, (to be a) real alternative,” he told the Star.

“I don’t feel this is a moment where ideology is really pressing in people’s lives. I think a useful frame right now is to think about the top versus the bottom, or more precisely, the top versus everyone else.”

He will likely face competition from Edmonton MP Heather McPherson, labour boss Rob Ashton and former Vancouver Island MP candidate Tanille Johnston, who are believed to be preparing leadership bids, the Star has reported. Montreal activist Yves Engler and Ontario farmer Tony McQuail have also announced their intentions to run for leader.