Yves Engler Launches NDP Leadership Bid with Appeal to Disillusioned Greens
by Global Green News
Longtime anti-imperialist activist sets sights on “bold change” as Greens drift toward centrism
Yves Engler, a prominent author and anti-war activist, has entered the race for leadership of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP), vowing to challenge Canada’s military-industrial complex and promote radical environmental, anti-capitalist, and anti-colonial policies.
In a candid exchange with Global Green News, Engler was asked whether he has a plan to win over disaffected Green Party members who are frustrated with the party’s support for militarism and its silence on the genocide in Gaza.
“There are a lot of people who have been, or are still, members of the Green Party who are very unhappy with the current leadership—especially on militarism and even their position on the genocide in Gaza,” said Engler. “I certainly invite them to look at what I stand for.”
“I’ve been very clear in my criticisms—not just of NDP sellouts, but also of Elizabeth May and the Green Party’s direction,” he continued, emphasizing that many Green members “want a much more systemic approach” on environmental and foreign policy questions.”
While Engler admits that ecological issues haven’t always been the central focus of his activism, he points to his book Stop Signs: Cars and Capitalism on the Road to Economic, Social and Ecological Decay as proof of his longstanding concern for sustainability. In that work, co-authored with Bianca Mugyenyi, he criticizes consumerism and corporate-driven environmentalism, themes that continue to shape his political analysis.
“Capitalism’s inherent drive for endless consumption is fundamentally incompatible with sustainability,” Engler told Global Green News, echoing the core argument of his campaign manifesto.”
A Campaign Against Militarism and Complicity
In his formal campaign announcement, Engler makes Gaza a central issue, accusing the Canadian government of enabling what he describes as Israel’s “holocaust” in the besieged Palestinian territory. He pledges to outlaw government-subsidized donations to Israel, de-list the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, and prosecute individuals involved in war crimes.
“Anyone appalled by the Liberals and Conservatives’ support for the holocaust in Gaza should be terrified by the prospect of giving these monsters greater means to wage violence,” Engler writes.”
He is equally scathing in his criticism of NDP leadership candidate Heather McPherson, whom he calls a “NATO parliamentary insider.” In contrast, Engler calls for full withdrawal from NATO, cuts to military spending, and resistance to U.S.-aligned foreign policy.
“To pay for Carney’s massive military boost,” he warns, “we’re going to see deep cuts to the civil service and social programs.” He sees his candidacy as a chance to “drive the debate away from the mushy middle.”
A Left Challenge Within a Hollowed-Out Party
Engler’s decision to run came after encouragement from the NDP Socialist Caucus. He admits the odds of winning are slim, but believes his campaign can influence the ideological direction of the party—and provide a home for left-wing voters frustrated with both the NDP and the Green Party.
“I’ve assisted environmental, Indigenous, feminist and other social movements for over 25 years,” he writes. “We must build an alternative that rejects [capitalism’s] war on the Earth, the human psyche and democracy.”
He also draws inspiration from his late uncle Al Engler’s work on “economic democracy,” advocating a transformation from capitalism’s “one dollar, one vote” to a system of democratic control over the economy.
Resonating With Disaffected Greens?
Engler’s willingness to name the Green Party’s shortcomings—especially its muted response to Israeli war crimes and its drift toward military normalcy—may find a receptive audience among Greens who have become alienated by Elizabeth May’s leadership.
“The air, the land, the water—they need revolutionaries,” Engler told Global Green News. “And I know many people in the Green Party want that kind of bold, systemic approach. They’re just not seeing it from their current leadership.”
With the Green Party polling near historic lows and its internal culture increasingly dominated by centrists and pro-NATO voices, Engler’s insurgent candidacy may not just shake up the NDP—it could offer disillusioned Greens a new political vehicle.
Reprinted from Global Green News