New NDP leader Lewis waits for general election instead of by-elections

NDP Leader Avi Lewis won't run for a Parliament seat in upcoming by-elections (contests to fill vacant seats). Instead, he'll spend the next year getting the party ready across all 343 ridings (electoral districts). Lewis, leader for four months, plans to seek a seat before or during the next general election. The NDP currently holds five seats, seven short of recognized party status — a threshold that grants funding and speaking time in Parliament.