Long Ballots, Short Patience 🤏

WHAT’S THE SCOOP?

After a six-month leadership campaign, there’s a new leader of the federal NDP. Avi Lewis, an activist, documentary filmmaker and former television host, was announced as the winner at the New Democratic Party convention in Winnipeg on Sunday. He won on the first ballot with 56 per cent of the vote, against Heather McPherson, Tanille Johnston, Rob Ashton and Tony McQuail. Lewis takes over from Jagmeet Singh, who resigned after the NDP was reduced to seven seats in the April 2025 federal election — tough night, to say the least. In the leadership race, Lewis ran on an anti-capitalist platform, proposing policies like a national cap on rent, a wealth tax and public options for groceries and telecoms. His win is already stirring tension, with provincial NDP leaders in Alberta and Saskatchewan making it clear they’re not exactly on board. And fun fact (because politics loves a full-circle moment): Lewis’ grandfather, David Lewis, led the NDP from 1971 to 1975.

Let’s talk bills… some passed, some proposed, all very consequential. Bill C-12, a major immigration reform bill, passed last week, but not without concern. Critics say it rolls back refugee rights, as it gives Ottawa the power to mass cancel group visas and set time limits on asylum claims. One lawyer called it the most significant rollback of refugee rights in more than a decade. Then there’s Bill C-25, the Strong and Free Elections Act, which proposes sweeping updates to election law, everything from privacy rules to political financing to how leadership contests are run (and enforced). It would also make it harder to organize long ballots, which were also recently addressed in a report by a House of Commons committee. The changes in the bill are necessary to protect Canadian democracy in a changing world, says Government House leader Steven MacKinnon. And finally: Bill C-26, the Improving Housing Supply Act. It’s a very short bill that proposes providing an additional $1.7-billion in immediate funding to help provinces and territories boost housing... however they see fit.

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NEWS NUGGETS

Spying Scandal: A CBC Indigenous investigation has revealed a spying operation that targeted hundreds of Indigenous people, with the support of the federal government. The extensive RCMP surveillance activities date back to the late 1960s, and newly declassified files confirm that in the mid-1970s, the Liberal gov approved covert RCMP wiretaps to monitor the National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations). PM Carney says there should be a public apology.

Military Math: Canada has officially hit the NATO defence spending target of two per cent of GDP — a benchmark set more than a decade ago. It is the first time since the late 1980s that Canada has met the target. Hitting the two per cent benchmark was a promise made by PM Carney, in the face of long-standing pressure from allies. Now what? Watch Minister of National Defence David McGuinty talk about what’s next.

Tech Trials: In the U.S. last week, a California jury ruled Meta and YouTube deliberately designed addictive products that harmed a young user. It follows another recent verdict in New Mexico, where a jury found Meta harms children’s mental health and safety. Listen to this pod for more on those two landmark trials, new laws banning teens from social media and what Canadian teens actually think about all of it.

WHAT ELSE WE’RE NIBBLING ON

To a situation at Air Canada that escalated quickly. It began after a March 22 runway collision at LaGuardia Airport that killed two Canadian Air Canada pilots, first officer Mackenzie Gunther and Capt. Antoine Forest. The following day, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau released a condolence in English, with just “bonjour” and “merci” bookending it, which did not go over well. Complaints poured in, including to the official languages commissioner, and from politicians, like the PM and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet. Rousseau was then called to testify before the Official Languages Committee, and he issued an apology for not being able to express himself adequately in French — an issue that, btw, has come up before. Now Air Canada has announced Rousseau will retire this fall.

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