Good morning. Avi Lewis has been elected as the new leader of the NDP during a period of turbulence for the federal party. More on that below, along with a trade trip to China and a journey to the moon. Let’s get to it.
Avi Lewis speaks after he was elected as the New Democratic Party's new leader on the last day of the convention in Winnipeg, on Sunday.Shannon Vanraes/Reuters
TOP STORY
Federal NDP elect Avi Lewis as new leader
The latest: After a nearly seven-month race, filmmaker and activist Avi Lewis is the new leader of the NDP. He beat four other candidates at the party’s convention in Winnipeg this weekend. His win has received backlash from NDP leaders in Saskatchewan and Alberta who said they do not support him because of his calls to impose levies on oil and gas pipelines.
Context: The NDP does not have official status in the House of Commons after performing badly in the 2025 federal election. It currently holds just six seats after a record low share of the popular vote, followed by the loss of Nunavut MP Lori Idlout, who crossed over to the Liberals earlier this month.
What else: Lewis has twice run unsuccessfully as a federal NDP candidate in Vancouver-area ridings. He is the son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis and the grandson of onetime federal NDP leader David Lewis.
What’s next: Lewis’s campaign was largely centred on a message to provide access to safe abortion, gender-affirming care, free transit, publicly owned grocery stores and tuition-free education. In his first speech as leader, he pledged to bring the party back to what he referred to as the NDP’s glory days.
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People work to recover items from a building hit by a U.S.-Israeli strike on a commercial district on Sunday, in Tehran, Iran.Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
World
Pakistan says it will hold U.S.-Iran talks
The latest: U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed to allow 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday. He also mused about seizing Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal in the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, Pakistan announced yesterday that it will host talks between the U.S. and Iran, though there was no immediate word from Washington or Tehran.
What’s next: Diplomats from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia met in Islamabad. They were expected to meet again Monday to discuss ending the month-long war.
Elsewhere: In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will widen its invasion of Lebanon, expanding the “existing security strip” in that country’s south while targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
Analysis: At what point does a world at war become a world war? Experts follow the connections between the conflicts.
In conversation, Tanya Tagaq is warm, funny and genuine; it’s hard to believe how her voice can transform on stage.Illustration by Chris Chipak
Arts
Tanya Tagaq isn’t here to make pretty things
The latest: Over the past two decades, Tanya Tagaq has extended her creative reach into diffuse cultural realms while remaining refreshingly, uncompromisingly unique. The 50-year-old Inuk singer, author, performer and visual artist is best known for katajjaq, or Inuit throat singing. Now on her sixth album, she takes aim at environmental harms.
What else: She recently released her latest studio album, Saputjiji which means “designated protector” in Inuktitut, and is pronounced “sa-poot-yee-yee.” She is also working on a new documentary about the forced relocation of Inuit families.
Trade
Canada takes its trade mission to China
The latest: Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is leading a trade-diversification mission to China this week, expanding on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent trip to that country aimed at resetting strained bilateral ties. Brian Tobin, vice-chair of BMO Financial Group and a former Newfoundland premier, said Ottawa’s move could open the door to significant Chinese investment in Canada.
What’s next: Champagne will meet senior Chinese finance and banking officials during a visit from April 1 to 4. China is expected to reciprocate with an investment delegation to Canada later this year.
Space
Artemis II mission is ready to fly
The latest: NASA managers responsible for launching the Artemis II mission say their rocket is ready after several delays. The long-awaited journey is now as close as it’s come to getting under way. The objective is to provide the first end-to-end test of NASA’s lunar transport system with people on board.
What’s next: Unless weather intervenes, they are in a good position to send four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon this Wednesday evening. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be on board to photograph the moon up close.
Bookmarked
- Also this week: Firearms owners have until tomorrow to make declarations for the federal gun-buyback program – but many police forces refuse to participate.
- At home: Five big questions after landmark Supreme Court hearing on Quebec’s Bill 21.
- Abroad: In this Pennsylvania town, there are differing views on the war, even among Trump voters.
- For your finances: Stocks, not housing, are now powering Canadian wealth.
- For your fashion: From mullets to shags, men are experimenting with longer locks.
- Conversation starter: Stéphane Dion writes about what it would take for a province to lawfully separate from Canada.
The Quote
I think if we had a choice, we wouldn’t be on screens so much. Still, there is something beautiful about e-mail, and now Signal and WhatsApp – the way we can keep in touch with each other. As a Gen Xer, that wasn’t always possible.
— Coral Short, founder of Empty
Much like admin parties where people hang out and do paperwork together, digital decluttering parties are helping in the quest for inbox zero.
The Shot
Nelly Furtado speaks after being recognized as the 2026 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee at the Juno Awards in Hamilton, on March 29.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Drake celebrated Nelly Furtado at the Juno Awards as she was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame. Plus, Why Tate McRae, Justin Bieber and the Weeknd don’t care about the Junos.