New Democratic Party leadership contender Avi Lewis hosted an emergency virtual town hall on Wednesday, positioning himself against what he termed the Liberal government's new "austerity" budget. The event, attended by approximately 500 people via Zoom, served dual purposes as both a political protest and a campaign platform for Lewis's retro-style leadership bid.
The Everyman Persona and the Shredded Cheese Confession
During the town hall, Lewis attempted to connect with ordinary Canadians through a surprising confession about his grocery habits. "Confession: I get shredded cheese," Lewis stated, feigning sheepishness. He elaborated that this was a time-saving measure, but expressed shock at his grocery bill. "Got a couple bags of shredded cheese, got a few things, it was $100 bucks," he told attendees, noting the cashier's confusion at the total.
This attempt to present himself as an everyman comes as Lewis campaigns under the slogan "return the party to its roots… for the many, not the money." However, critics were quick to draw parallels to former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh's much-mocked moment when he mistakenly identified a bag of apples as potatoes while complaining about food prices.
Questioning the Authenticity
The authenticity of Lewis's everyman image faced immediate scrutiny. Observers noted that during the Zoom meeting, a $570 molded plywood designer Eames-style chair was visible behind him, contradicting his narrative of shared financial struggle with ordinary Canadians.
Lewis comes from established political lineage as the son and grandson of NDP politicians Stephen and David Lewis, and is married to author and activist Naomi Klein. His background raises questions about how genuinely he can relate to the financial pressures facing most Canadian families.
Emergency Response to Federal Budget
The town hall was organized as a direct response to the Liberal government's newly released 2025 budget. Lewis's campaign staffer, who uses both "he" and "they" pronouns, opened the event by characterizing Finance Minister Carney's budget as "a shock doctrine style budget" - a reference to the terminology popularized by Lewis's wife, Naomi Klein.
Former NDP deputy leader Libby Davies co-hosted the event, though she hasn't held public office for a decade. The discussion focused heavily on opposing corporate interests and advocating for the NDP's traditional values, consistent with Lewis's campaign message.
The emergency town hall occurred against the backdrop of the NDP's diminished political standing. Under Jagmeet Singh's leadership, the party suffered its worst electoral results in history, reduced to just seven seats in the House of Commons. Lewis now positions himself as the candidate who can rescue the party from its current non-party status and return it to relevance.
