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| Jack Layton: The man, the mustache, the legend. |
I awoke this morning to find some stirring news on Yahoo! Canada's homepage: NDP leader Jack Layton had passed away at the age of 61 after a long bout with cancer.
Now, I was never really a supporter of the NDP - I try to keep my true political views under wraps - but I personally liked Jack Layton. Here was a man who poured his heart into every task, and provided his party with a strong sense of leadership. Indeed, Layton was the perfect captain for the good ship NDP.
In the recent federal election, Layton led the NDP to a historic victory, especially in Quebec. Referred to as the "Orange Crush" by many political analysts, ridings that had once been Bloc Quebecois strongholds suddenly turned orange, the official colour of the NDP. Interestingly enough, Layton himself is originally from Quebec, although his personal riding was located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
As the results gradually came in, I watched in awe as Quebec's electoral map turned almost completely orange. it was as shocking as it was interesting. Afterwards, a mighty cry was released from the Orange Party, as with their 104 seats, they had scored a historic victory and become the official opposition in the House of Commons as a result. The Bloc Quebecois was left to lick its wounds, as they had been reduced to three seats within Quebec, thus losing their official status as a party. The Bloc's crushing defeat led to the resignation of leader Gilles Duceppe, along with several other Bloc hardliners.
While on the campaign trail, Layton frequently visted with supporters and held rallies across Canada. He was a great orator, and he often captured audiences with his words. His dream was to work with Canadians to bring about change in this country. Once the final votes had been tallied in the election, Layton was elated, as his dream had become reality.
"Let me tell you this: Spring is here, my friends, and a new chapter begins," Layton said in his post-election speech.
"In this campaign," Layton continued, "New Democrats promised to get Ottawa working for you and your families. Tonight, Canadians responded in record numbers all across the land."
And respond they did. The supporters in attendance at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre were collectively shouting "NDP! NDP!" but it sounded more like "MVP! MVP!" Layton was indeed an MVP for the NDP, and his words and inspired many during the campaign period.
But Layton was more than just a political leader. He was a charismatic individual who many people found they could associate with. He spoke at least once at my alma mater, Concordia University, and the lecture was well-attended. In his final message to Canadians, Layton expressed his strong liking for young Canadians, and how much he enjoyed interacting with them. He believed they were the future of this country, and they too held the power to help change this country for the better.
An inspiration to many, Layton leaves behind a wife, Olivia Chow, herself a GTA-based NDP MP, and two children. He may be gone, but his political legacy will live on forever. And I may take some heat for this, but I think he had the best mustache in politics.
I think that today, we should set aside our partisan thoughts and other political views, and remember this great man for who he was, what he said, and what he did. He said he wanted to bring change to Canada, and in the end, he did.
Thank you, Mr. Layton, for your contributions to this country. You will be missed.
To read Jack Layton's final message to Canadians, click the link below. http://www.montrealgazette.com/mobile/iphone/story.html?id=5289212
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