Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck has criticized newly-elected federal NDP leader Avi Lewis for his firm stance against fossil fuel projects. In a public letter addressed to Lewis on March 28, Beck pointed out a video shared on Lewis’ Linkedin account where he explicitly stated his opposition to any new fossil fuel development, including LNG.
Lewis asserted in the video, “We must boldly declare that any government supporting new pipelines and fossil fuel infrastructure shall not proceed.” Beck, in her letter, criticized this position as “ideological and impractical,” arguing that it disregards the challenges faced by workers in Saskatchewan and nationwide, putting jobs in jeopardy.
In the letter, Beck highlighted that Lewis’ advocated policies jeopardize $13.6 billion in annual economic activity in Saskatchewan. She further emphasized that this contradicts Lewis’ pledge to prioritize affordability and deviates from the core values established by NDP’s founder, Tommy Douglas.
Despite her critique, Beck expressed willingness to engage with Lewis if he publically reverses his positions and demonstrates an understanding of the realities faced by Saskatchewan workers dependent on the industries for their livelihoods. As of the time of writing, Lewis’ campaign has not responded to CBC’s request for comment.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-ndp-letter-carla-beck-avi-lewis-federal-9.7146488)