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The blogTO roundup of the reactions to the surprise death yesterday of Jack Layton, the Toronto politician who in a mere eight years of leadership made the social-democratic New Democratic Party a federal also-ran into the Official Opposition in the Canadian federal parliament this May, pretty much sums it up. Everyone in Canada, I think, was looking forward to Layton's appearance in parliament when the fall session opened. Even when he made his last public appearance only a month ago, looking terribly wasted and with a horribly aged voice, no one really though that he'd die.
As the New APPS Blog' Moham Matthen observed, his death weakens the NDP at a terribly vulnerable time: not only has it been left without a leader going into its first parliament as official opposition, but without the fluently bilingual and popular Layton the NDP might have trouble sustaining its new strength in Québec. Any number of failure scenarios are possible, ranging from the quotidan of a permanent collapse in the NDP's share in Québec seats and a movement to another party--a revived Bloc Québécois?--to fates still more arcane.
Call me an optimist, but I don't think that concluding the party's imminent doom is warranted. Layton led the party, yes, but the party included people other than him, with different candidates appealing in different ridings, too. Thomas Mulcair, the bilingual parliamentarian who was the first NDP MP elected in Québec, is a strong contender for the leadership; Libby Davies, is another. The shift in the Québec electorate towards the NDP may well be permanent, inasmuch as the Liberals and the Conservatives are limited to their small strongholds in that province and the Bloc's revival being very far from a sure thing. There may yet be failures, but the people involved have been trying to address them with a certain amount of success so far.
The NDP may well continue strengthened by the now-iconic image of Layton, with his cheeriness and his introduction of the rhetoric of hope back into the Canadian political sphere. He crafted his last letter to the Canadian public with that aim in mind.
Andrew Barton's commentary--very much recommended, by the way--is accurate in pointing out that this hopefulness is quite unique, that Layton's positive vision of how Canada could be better played well indeed to an electorate used to rhetorics concerning the dire fates Canada must evade. If the NDP is smart, and capable, it would do very well to continue using the rhetoric of hope. Certainly we saw how well it worked in the United States' recent presidential election campaign.
And who knows? As terrible as it may sound, having a sainted leader who's now dead and beyond reproach can be an asset for any community: the trope of the prophet who passes just before reaching the holy land is an ancient one, and in its pregnant pain has the potential to be an inspiring one. Will anyone in the New Democratic Party be willing to give up on the political party that Jack took so far when the goal of becoming a potential governing party is so close? Letting down Jack just isn't an option, at least not right now.
As the New APPS Blog' Moham Matthen observed, his death weakens the NDP at a terribly vulnerable time: not only has it been left without a leader going into its first parliament as official opposition, but without the fluently bilingual and popular Layton the NDP might have trouble sustaining its new strength in Québec. Any number of failure scenarios are possible, ranging from the quotidan of a permanent collapse in the NDP's share in Québec seats and a movement to another party--a revived Bloc Québécois?--to fates still more arcane.
Call me an optimist, but I don't think that concluding the party's imminent doom is warranted. Layton led the party, yes, but the party included people other than him, with different candidates appealing in different ridings, too. Thomas Mulcair, the bilingual parliamentarian who was the first NDP MP elected in Québec, is a strong contender for the leadership; Libby Davies, is another. The shift in the Québec electorate towards the NDP may well be permanent, inasmuch as the Liberals and the Conservatives are limited to their small strongholds in that province and the Bloc's revival being very far from a sure thing. There may yet be failures, but the people involved have been trying to address them with a certain amount of success so far.
The NDP may well continue strengthened by the now-iconic image of Layton, with his cheeriness and his introduction of the rhetoric of hope back into the Canadian political sphere. He crafted his last letter to the Canadian public with that aim in mind.
All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.
And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.
Andrew Barton's commentary--very much recommended, by the way--is accurate in pointing out that this hopefulness is quite unique, that Layton's positive vision of how Canada could be better played well indeed to an electorate used to rhetorics concerning the dire fates Canada must evade. If the NDP is smart, and capable, it would do very well to continue using the rhetoric of hope. Certainly we saw how well it worked in the United States' recent presidential election campaign.
And who knows? As terrible as it may sound, having a sainted leader who's now dead and beyond reproach can be an asset for any community: the trope of the prophet who passes just before reaching the holy land is an ancient one, and in its pregnant pain has the potential to be an inspiring one. Will anyone in the New Democratic Party be willing to give up on the political party that Jack took so far when the goal of becoming a potential governing party is so close? Letting down Jack just isn't an option, at least not right now.
