Together with six prominent left -
leaning leaders from
trade unions, the breakaway members established a new party, the Barisan Sosialis.
Still, political rivals made hay on social media of the fact that a number of signatories are backers of the left -
leaning New Democrats (NDP), including politicians like former Ontario provincial NDP
leader Stephen Lewis, artists like film - maker Sarah Polley, and
trade union members like Canadian Union of Public Employees president Paul M
union members like Canadian
Union of Public Employees president Paul M
Union of Public Employees president Paul Moist.