There will be lots written about Jack Layton’s contributions to his city and country, but I will always remember a man who loved his job, believed in making the world a better place and, most importantly, was generous, honest and kind.
I first met Jack when I was running for city council in 2000. I was his 10 pm appointment and was hoping for advice. Shortly after our meeting began, his 10:45 pm arrived. It was a good introduction to his ethic. I lost that race, but his tips on organizing and communicating stuck with me.
I got to know him much better after he won the NDP leadership in 2003. I was party president until 2006 and watched Jack set about re-building the party. It was a relief to see a political leader speaking out on urban issues, and inspiring to see that he was able to convince farmers and others in other non-urban areas that a citified politician could be trusted to represent their interests. I think Toronto’s image was greatly improved as a result.
While we worked together as leader and president, he became a trusted friend. I remember many a conversation squeezed in between events, more than one at drinking establishments across the country. He was also there for me as an adviser when I was elected in 2003 as a rookie Ward 18 councillor. He told me: “You can bring about a lot of change at the municipal level as long as you remember that voters want their councillor to be responsive. So when there’s a problem in your ward, make sure you fix it. And then you’ll also be able to work on the big-picture items.”
Jack represented the best in public service. He was ambitious because he knew there was so much to accomplish and that many people were counting on that change. Whether you agreed with his position on an issue or not, it was always clear that he believed what he was doing was the right thing and not just politically expedient. He chose his issues carefully and always stood up for those whose voices were not heard.
Jack’s great qualities were his drive and his willingness to mentor and work with young people. He showed his commitment to them, and they in return respected him and put their hopes in his hands. He also did what no other federal leader has done for over two decades: he made Quebec feel like it was part of the national dialogue. Having lived there during the last referendum, I can tell you this was a remarkable feat.
Jack showed us that our democracy is strong. He demonstrated that with the right leader, people want to be engaged. Through the way he lived his life and practised politics, he taught us that you don’t always need to hold office to effect change, and that with a little skill and tenacity you can make things happen.
He was able to use the principle of compromise to generate reform, whether it was better cycling infrastructure or negotiating with Paul Martin to scrap corporate tax cuts and divert money to transit. I enjoyed watching him try to bring the spirit of cooperation he learned at City Hall to Parliament with varying degrees of success. Perhaps it was this collegiality that surprised Canadians used to attack-and-destroy politics.
Wherever Jack is now, I believe he has already started a committee and is getting things organized to make it an even better place. It’s only been a few days, but Jack, we already miss you so much.
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