Keywords Born in 1950 Educators Politicians, Federal-Provincial

Along with Olivia Chow, his wife and fellow councillor, Layton served as a Toronto city councillor (1982-1991 and 1994-2003) and was part of a coalition of NDPers and progressives. Layton placed second in the Toronto mayoralty race in 1991and ran unsuccessfully as a federal NDP candidate for Parliament in 1993 and 1997. He has served on the federal board of the Climate Change Protection Programme (1998-2001) and as president of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities (2001-2002).

Despite having no seat in Parliament, Layton entered the 2003 federal NDP leadership race and won a convincing first-ballot victory over 5 rivals, including three sitting MPs, subsequently replacing Alexa MCDONOUGH as leader on 25 January 2003. Confirming his reputation as a coalition builder, he won strong support from both the party's left wing and so-called establishment. His victory signalled a desire by party members to move the party more to the left, to be more attentive to social movements, to give greater attention to issues confronting large urban centres and to have a leader who could attract greater publicity for a party in fourth place in Parliament.

Leading up to the 2004 campaign, the energetic Layton attracted media publicity, and the party rose in the polls. In the 2004 election the NDP recorded its best vote count in over a decade (almost doubling its votes to 15.7%), although the number of seats won increased only to 19, significantly less than the party had anticipated. Layton was personally elected as MP in his Toronto riding of Toronto Danforth, but his wife, also running elsewhere in Toronto, was not. In the minority Parliament of 2004/2005, the NDP was able to play a key role. The NDP's amendment in the spring of 2005 to the Liberal government's budget generated more spending for infrastructure and social programmes. The NDP also successfully lobbied the Martin government to resist involvement in the US missile defence system and to pass the same-sex marriage legislation.

Layton's constructive role amidst the turbulent minority Parliament contributed to the growth in his profile and positive assessment by the public. In the 2006 election, the NDP, under Layton, continued to make gains and rose in percent vote to 17.5% and in seats to 29. With the election of his wife to Parliament in 2006, Layton and Chow have become a powerful and charismatic couple in national politics. Currently, the NDP is the fourth largest party in the House of Commons, but given the diffusion of power in a minority Parliament the NDP's role will continue to be substantial.

Layton, Jack
The Honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) (courtesy NDP).

Author ALAN WHITEHORN

Suggested Reading
Jack Layton, Speaking Out: Ideas That Work for Canadians (2004); Jack Layton, Homelessness: The Making and Unmaking of a Crisis (2000).

Links to Other Sites
Political Parties and Leaders
Profiles and related data about past and present leaders of Canadian political parties. From the Parliament of Canada website.

Members of Parliament
This site contains information about Members of Parliament and their roles, chair occupants, ministers, constituencies, elections, and election candidates. From the website of the Parliament of Canada.

CPAC
CPAC, the Cable Public Affairs Channel, provides a window on Parliament, politics, and public affairs in Canada. Click on "Telling Times" to view a series of short historical documentaries that showcase pivotal Canadian events.