The Canadian political landscape, still reeling from the tragic and untimely death of Jack Layton, finds itself in a greater state of uncertainty than in May—the month when the Conservative Party claimed a majority government. It was then that the NDP shed its fringe status by defeating the Liberals and the Bloc Québécois, whose leaders both resigned after losing their seats. Layton’s death means that the three main oppositon parties are now all led by interim leaders
“It shows that we’re in a period of real flux and indecision” Professor Will Straw, Director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada said, of the NDP’s sweeping success in May.
The loss of the party’s beloved leader, then, begs the question: What’s next for Canada and the NDP? It remains to be seen if the party’s success was contingent on the affability and flawless bilingualism of “le Bon Jack”, and how this will affect the NDP’s momentum.
“[May’s election] shows that the NDP is a very significant force and it shows that with the next right leader, [they] can make a breakthrough in Quebec” Professor Straw said, adding that the NDP is probably not going to do as well in Quebec as the during the last election, “but I don’t think it was just a fluke. The NDP has time to plant deep roots in Quebec.”
Laurin Liu, one of the four former McGill students who rode the orange wave into parliament this spring, agrees.
“People have been coming into my riding office, telling me to keep fighting the same fight that Jack fought … people, at least in Quebec, have a lot of confidence in the NDP. They say: ‘my first vote was for Jack, but my next one will be for you.'”
Ironically, then, Layton’s death may have even strengthened the party, if only temporarily. According to Professor Straw, the provincial election in Ontario shows the NDP ahead several points.
“People say that’s the effect of the Jack Layton funeral,” he says. “That’s not going to last forever … outpourings of emotion don’t usually have long-standing political effects. However, the imagery gives a legitimacy that can only help them in the long run.”
In fact, many sympathizers, as well as those within the party, feel even more motivated.
“Yes, we’re very sad about it but … the sadness of it almost motivates us more to do the work he started,” said Sam Harris, member and former executive at NDP McGill.
Despite this, part of the NDP’s appeal may be attributable to Jack’s Anglo-Quebec heritage and Montreal roots.
“Just the fact that he’s from Quebec, that he went to McGill, and obviously [his Quebec-Anglo roots] are all contributing factors that make me feel close to him,” says Harris, an Anglophone Quebecker.
Layton’s experience in Montreal and at McGill helped to shape his political views and ambitions.
“I think his roots in Quebec were more and more encouraged as time went on; he never forgot where he came from, and that applies to McGill,” Matthew Dubé, another McGill grad turned NDP MP said.
In fact, it was here that “Smiling Jack” first became interested in politics. “Jack shared with us that it was Charles Taylor, a philosophy teacher at McGill when he was a student, that made him want to change his biology major to a political science major,” Charmaine Borg, another former McGill student elected to parliment last year said. “I think Charles Taylor inspired Jack to get involved and make a difference.”
This interest translated into an unsuccessful bid for VP External of SSMU, something Layton told Dubé he’d always remember.
“His failed run was in a way more inspiring; the important thing to him was that he was active and involved.”
It seems that Jack’s legacy will be the encouragement of political and community involvement. At last year’s Discover McGill, Dubé remembers Layton stressing the importance of all political involvement, not just within a particular political party.
“He said: get involved in your community. Whatever it takes to be a part of the discussion.”
