Why I’m Supporting Avi Lewis for NDP Leader

Tomorrow marks the last day you can join the NDP in order to be able to vote for their next leader in March. This race is a critical time given the NDP’s worst performance ever last April and – for full disclosure – was the first time I didn’t vote for that party. A sentiment many other lifelong NDP supporters shared. There are five official candidates in this race who are the following:

• Heather McPherson
• Avi Lewis
• Rob Ashton
• Tanille Johnston
• Tony McQuail

I will briefly go over these candidates and explain why I chose to support Avi Lewis.

A screen grab from the January 10 debate with Avi Lewis, Tony McQuail, Rob Ashton, Heather McPherson, and Tanille Johnston. Mike Layton and MPP Doly Begun (left) moderated the debate.

RANT – Tory’s Weak Vision Zero Leadership

While Wednesday saw great news for Yonge4All and other road safety advocates in Toronto with the Midtown Yonge Complete Street Pilot being made permanent by a 22 to 4 vote, there is another disappointment which dampened the celebratory mood and deserves a rant. Despite the overwhelming positive staff report, an unanimous vote at IEC, and over 8500 signatures for the Yonge4All petition, Mayor John Tory threw all of that under the bus by supporting Councillor Jon Burnside’s motion to extend the pilot. A move which proves he is a coward when it comes to road safety, as well as contradicts his own earlier push to shorten the staff recommended extension from July 2023 to January 2023.

Mayor John Tory showing a printout of the so-called "landlocked streets" (via YouTube)