Avi Lewis, leader of the federal New Democratic Party, announced on July 28, 2026 that he has registered for intensive French immersion classes in Montreal. The move comes as he prepares to begin a campaign tour aimed at supporting NDP candidates running in several Montreal ridings.
Lewis’ enrollment in the immersion program is intended to strengthen his command of French, a language that dominates political discourse in Quebec. By improving his fluency, he hopes to more effectively communicate with voters and provide direct assistance to the party’s local candidates during the upcoming campaign period.
The decision arrives against a backdrop of a challenging electoral environment for the NDP in Quebec. The party currently holds only a small number of seats in the province and faces additional uncertainty due to forthcoming vacancies in Montreal constituencies. These factors have heightened the importance of any effort that could bolster the party’s visibility and appeal among francophone voters.
While the immersion courses are described as intensive, specific details about the curriculum or schedule have not been disclosed. Lewis will integrate the language training with his campaign activities, traveling across Montreal’s ridings to meet constituents, attend local events, and support the candidates on the ground. The NDP hopes that his improved language skills will aid in articulating the party’s platform and addressing regional concerns more directly.
The initiative underscores the party’s strategy to address linguistic barriers that have historically limited its reach in Quebec. By taking French lessons ahead of the campaign, Lewis aims to demonstrate a commitment to the province’s cultural context and to enhance the overall effectiveness of the NDP’s Montreal campaign effort.