Canada's New Democratic Party elected filmmaker Avi Lewis as its new leader, aiming to revive the left-wing party after a devastating electoral collapse. The party lost nearly all its parliamentary seats last April when voters shifted to the Liberal Party amid economic uncertainty and threats from the United States. Lewis, 58, comes from a prominent leftist political dynasty that includes his grandfather David Lewis and father Stephen Lewis.

Lewis inherits a party in crisis, having dropped from 24 parliamentary seats to single digits in the last election. The party's traditional working-class base has eroded, with many voters now favoring the Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre. Political scientist David McGrane notes this represents the party's most severe challenge yet, questioning whether it can recover from what he calls its current 'critical condition.'

The new leader faces an uphill battle rebuilding the party's identity while navigating economic concerns that now dominate Canadian politics. His campaign focuses on affordability, environmental issues, and anti-Zionist positions on international affairs. However, some policy proposals like establishing a publicly owned grocery chain have failed to resonate with voters, according to market research showing Canadians aren't interested in such solutions.