Avi Lewis wants Liberal government to adopt parts of Leap Manifesto

One of the big names behind the Leap Manifesto has hissights set on the Liberal government despite recent overtures by some members of the NDP to adopt the document as its own.

"The party we really want to influence is theone that's in government because we want these principles embedded in the Leap Manifesto to become the law of the land," Avi Lewis, a climate change activist and filmmaker, said in an interview with Chris Hall on CBC Radio'sThe House.

Lewissaid during a recent Leap Manifestotown hall in Toronto, a Liberal MP sat in on the discussion, addressed the crowd and cornered organizers to learn more about the manifesto, which calls for dramatic action on climate change, a rebuke of Canadian consumer capitalism and a renewed focus on fighting inequality.

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The document has a wide range of supporters, including actors, labour unions and environmentalists. It was unveiled in September during the election campaignbut received scant attention by any of the major parties at the time.

"We're happy and excited to talk to any political party that's interested. Let's be honest, theremight be a political party that would have no interest in talking to us," Lewis said with a laugh, referring to the Conservative Party.

The Tories would find thecall for a moratorium on pipeline developmentand a complete shift to clean technology by 2050 counterto its largely pro-oilsands agenda.

But despite the desire ofLeap Manifesto organizersto influence theLiberal government, whichhas adopted a decidedly more "green" narrative than its predecessor, Lewis is alsohappy to court support from the NDP.

Leave oil in the ground

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said that if his party adopts apolicy to attempt to end the age of fossil fuels by keeping oil and coal in the ground, he will act to make that policya reality.

"If the party decides that's the way, as the leader of the party, I'll do everything I can to make that a reality, but Canadians have been told too many things that haven't panned out for the last 20 years," Mulcair told Peter Mansbridge in an interview with CBC'sThe National.

Mulcair speaks to Mansbridge about fossil fuels development debate

8 years ago

Duration 0:46

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair spoke to CBC Chief Correspondent Peter Mansbridge today in Ottawa they discuss the party's policy debate on whether to develop the oil sands

A number of New Democratic party supporters have also drafted a series ofpolicy resolutions in advanceof this weekend's convention that could further tie the party to the manifesto.

Lewis and former NDP MPs Craig Scott and Libby Davies endorsed a resolution jointly proposed by the Vancouver East and TorontoDanforthriding associations that rejects awholesale endorsement of the manifesto, but rather calls it a "high-level statement of principles."

The resolution encourages internal debate as to how the manifesto's policy prescriptionscan be adapted and modifiedto fit within the confines of theparty's next electoralplatform.Those discussions will then inform thepre-convention policy process leading up to2018.

The resolution was selected byNDP party delegates at the convention in Edmonton on Fridayover other more radical proposalsthat called for the party to adopt the manifesto in full, without further discussion.It will go to the convention floor on Sunday, before Mulcair addresses the delegates.

Lewis said he was broadly supportive of the NDP's stance.

"I think it's an enlightened response by a political party that, like all national parties, has different regions and different interests. You know, the [NDP] premier of Alberta went on television to call for a pipeline and the Leap Manifesto says 'No new fossil fuel infrastructure.' These are clearly thorny issues that need to be grappled with," Lewis conceded.

The filmmaker said that Notley's support for a pipeline, while understandable, is short-sighted given what he calls the climate crisis the world is facing.

"Thescience is absolutely clear. The consensus ...97 per cent ofclimate scientists have established a carbon budget for theworld. If Canadais goingtouse up its fair sharewe have to be fossil fuel free by 2050. I don't quite understand how we can be building the infrastructure of the last century," he said.

The activist did not reserve criticism for the oil and gas industry, but also took aim at trade deals the government has penned with other countries.

The manifesto calls for an end to all existing trade deals because of mechanisms that allow corporations to sue countries, calling such provisions a threat to a government's capacity to help rebuild struggling local economies.

Avi Lewis touts Leap Manifesto as key to NDP's future

8 years ago

Duration 2:05

Filmmaker, climate activist Avi Lewis says NDP should adopt some of the left-wing policies espoused in Leap Manifesto as it looks to rebuild.