Jack Layton - Photo courtesy of the New Democratic Party of Canada
What else is there to say, when all has already been said? I’m talking of course about Jack Layton.
When it comes to a political figure, the wave of emotion that swept across the country over the days following his death was of a magnitude rarely seen in this country. Proof then, that Jack reached out and touched Canadians in a very special way.
We may as well admit it; the death of the NDP leader will undoubtedly have an impact on Canadian politics. As a matter of fact, the death of a politician while on active duty is a rare event in and of itself. What got the best of many is the unfairness of the timing of his demise: so soon after his massive victory last May.
His personal tragedy touches us all. Whatever our political affiliations, none of us can stay insensitive to the story of a man who through sheer hard work and determination attained a historical success he never had time to enjoy.
But, one question begs to be answered…now what?
The NDP must, quickly, turn its gaze ahead and find a new leader. We will shortly find out the details of that leadership race. This won’t be an easy task for the party’s members.
We already know, right off the bat that the winner must be bilingual. And since the province of Quebec was so instrumental to the party’s victory, any candidate from that province would have a keen advantage in the upcoming leadership race. Quebec represents about 60% of the official opposition’s seats, giving the NDP around 79% of its seats. A fact simply impossible to ignore.
The NDP must also keep in mind the fact that if this party is where it is today – with its incredible gains and position since the May election – it owes all of it to Jack Layton’s work and his personality.
“Bon Jack” as Quebecers came to call him with affection, was able to reach the “belle province’s” sensitive chord as no other NDP leader ever could. As a matter of fact, very few federal political leaders, no matter of what affiliation, ever reached that electorate to such a level as Jack Layton did.
The future should be quite interesting. Will those NDP members who aren’t from Quebec think political short term and go for a Quebecois leader, a first for this party? After all, its role as official opposition hangs in the balance.
The next federal elections are still far off, but its status lies in the re-election of most of its Quebec MPs. It’s difficult to see how the NDP could make enough gains elsewhere in the country to offset important losses in Quebec.
In this picture, Thomas Mulclair, should he decide to run, has the keenest of advantages.
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Translation Monique Kroeger
