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Avi Lewis Wins Federal NDP Leadership in First-Ballot Victory

Avi Lewis, who was proclaimed as the new leader of the NDP, speaks at the party convention in Winnipeg Sunday, March 29, 2026. Filmmaker and longtime activist Avi Lewis has been elected the new leader of the federal New Democratic Party , securing a decisive first‑ballot win with nearly 40,000 votes out of roughly 71,000 cast . His victory marks a significant shift for the party as grassroots members push for a more unapologetically left‑wing direction.  Lewis’s win signals renewed momentum for the NDP after a difficult federal election year. His campaign championed bold proposals—including expanding public ownership in key sectors—and emphasized rebuilding the party from the ground up. He inherits a party reduced to six seats in the House of Commons and facing internal tensions over energy policy, particularly from Alberta and Saskatchewan NDP leaders who warn his positions could harm workers in their provinces.  In his victory speech at the Winnipeg convention, Lewis call...
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Long Lines Form and Frustration Grows as Cuba Runs Short of Cash

 

In Havana, Cuba, long queues outside banks and ATMs have become a common sight. People stand in line early in the day, hoping to withdraw Cuban pesos for routine transactions like buying food and other essentials. The shortage of cash has become a significant challenge for many Cubans, adding to the complexities of the country’s monetary system.

Several factors contribute to this cash shortage, all of which are linked to Cuba’s deep economic crisis—one of the worst in decades. Let’s explore the reasons behind this frustrating situation:

  1. Government Fiscal Deficit: Cuba’s growing fiscal deficit has strained the availability of cash. The government’s financial challenges have made it difficult to maintain sufficient liquidity in the banking system.

  2. Lack of High-Denomination Banknotes: The absence of banknotes with denominations greater than 1,000 Cuban pesos (approximately $3 in the parallel market) exacerbates the problem. Without larger denominations, routine transactions become cumbersome for citizens.

  3. Stubbornly High Inflation: Inflation rates in Cuba remain high, eroding the purchasing power of the local currency. As prices rise, people need more cash to cover their basic needs.

  4. Cash Hoarding by Entrepreneurs and Business Owners: Most of the available cash is held by entrepreneurs and small- to medium-sized business owners. These individuals often collect cash from commercial transactions but hesitate to return it to the banks. Their reasons vary—from distrust of local banks to the need to convert Cuban pesos into foreign currency.

  5. Import-Dependent Economy: Entrepreneurs and business owners in Cuba rely on imports for almost everything they sell. To pay for supplies needed to run their businesses, they often hold onto Cuban pesos, intending to exchange them for foreign currency on the informal market.

Converting Cuban pesos into other currencies presents yet another challenge due to the island’s highly fluctuating exchange rates. As Cubans continue to grapple with this cash shortage, frustrations mount, and the daily struggle to access their hard-earned money persists.

The situation in Cuba highlights the complexities of managing a monetary system during an economic crisis. 

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