Canada’s new NDP leader has announced the critic roles for his six-person caucus in Ottawa — naming his former opponent Heather McPherson as House leader.

Calling the MPs a “progressive beacon in the House” in a news release, Avi Lewis said the New Democrats are “united and laser-focused on the everyday emergency facing Canadians.”

Lewis won the leadership handedly last month, beating McPherson, the only MP in the race, with 56 per cent of the vote.

Lewis does not have a seat in the House of Commons, making McPherson’s appointment as his most senior deputy more important, as he’ll be unable to vote or speak in the chamber or easily access areas of Parliament that MPs can.

Lewis has said he’s in no rush to try to win a seat. Instead, he said he wants to focus on travelling the country to renew support for the NDP and fundraise.

McPherson will take on her previous job as critic for foreign affairs and international development, along with international trade, seniors and heritage. The Edmonton MP had stepped away from those roles during her leadership bid.

Alexandre Boulerice, who has been rumoured to be considering a jump to provincial politics in Quebec, will keep his existing critic roles in environment and climate change, labour, transport and official languages.

Boulerice, the only fluent French speaker and MP from Quebec, has joked in the past that he’s also “the spokesperson for every issue in French.”

On Wednesday at a byelection event in the Toronto riding of University-Rosedale, Lewis told CBC News he’s still waiting to find out whether Boulerice will leave the New Democrats.

Everyone knows I looked [Boulerice] in the eye and said: please stay– Avi Lewis, NDP leader

“Everyone knows I looked him in the eye and said: please stay. But we’re prepared for his decision in the coming days,” Lewis said.

“I’m absolutely not worried about the rest of caucus.”

The New Democrats were dealt a blow last month ahead of their convention when Lori Idlout, the New Democrat MP for Nunavut, crossed the floor to join the Liberals.

Vancouver MP Don Davies, who served as the party’s interim leader for nearly a year after Jagmeet Singh stepped down, will continue as critic for finance, industry and jobs.

$9.5M in party debt

While the NDP reported a total debt of $13 million at its convention last month, Davies said that number is expected to be lower, thanks to HST and local campaign rebates. With those, the New Democrats will be $9.5 million in the red, he said.

Davies will also serve as parliamentary leader and whip, along with the critic of defence and natural resources.

Winnipeg MP Leah Gazan will take on the roles of critic for Indigenous affairs and Arctic sovereignty while also staying critic of women and gender equality, children, families and social development, people with disabilities, post-secondary education and skills and training.

Vancouver MP Jenny Kwan will be the NDP’s new justice critic while keeping her existing portfolios of housing, immigration, infrastructure, public safety and national security.

Vancouver Island MP Gord Johns remains in his roles as critic of health, tourism, fisheries and oceans, veterans affairs, agriculture and emergency preparedness.

Without official party status, the NDP does not have guaranteed speaking time in question period; however over the last year the New Democrats were usually granted one question near the end of the allotted time.

The New Democrat MPs also are unable to sit on House of Commons committees, greatly impeding their ability to influence proposed legislation.

During the leadership race, Lewis pointed to the party’s situation in Ottawa as a reason for him to focus rebuilding the NDP outside of the nation’s capital, rather than trying to win a seat for himself.