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1 Weekly News LEVEL 2 Week /12 J ack Layton started his long career as a fiery and dedicated politician in the 1980s and 1990s when he worked as a councillor on both the Toronto City and the Metropolitan Toronto councils. During this time, he began expressing his strong left-of-centre values. He fought against poverty and homelessness, and worked to increase affordable housing. He also fought for the rights of AIDS patients and had a firm commitment towards environmental causes helping, for example, to increase the use of wind power to meet Toronto s electricity needs. During this time, Layton also met and married Olivia Chow, a Hong- Kong born Torontonian who joined Layton in the political ranks, first as a city councillor and later as a federal member of Parliament. In 2003 Layton entered federal politics after being elected leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP). Layton would lead the party through four elections in the next eight years. WORD POWER Left-of-centre: Political views that are more socialist or liberal. Prior to Layton s election, the NDP had been suffering from shrinking popularity and support. In the previous election, it had won only 13 seats and just over 8 percent of the popular vote. Under Layton, however, the party found new life. In the 2004 election, NDP support rose to 15 percent of the popular vote its highest level in 16 years and the party won 19 seats. In subsequent elections, the NDP continued to improve winning 29 seats in 2006 and 37 seats in In 2011 the NDP had a massive breakthrough, winning 102 seats and over 30 percent of the popular vote. With the second largest number of seats in Parliament, the NDP formed the Official Opposition for the first time in the party s history. Much of the NDP s success is credited to Layton, who was widely regarded as a politician with passion, honesty, and an ability to inspire others. However, his goal to someday become Canada s first NDP prime minister will never be realized. Soon after the 2011 election, Layton revealed that he was suffering from cancer for the second time in his life. He died on August 22, 2011, at the age of 61. Many wonder whether the NDP can continue its momentum without its beloved leader. Of the NDP s 102 members of Parliament, many are new and inexperienced. Much will depend on the strength of Layton s successor, who will be chosen this fall when the NDP holds a leadership convention. DID YOU KNOW? In a letter written shortly before his death, Layton said to Canadians: My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful, and optimistic. And we ll change the world Classroom Ready. All rights reserved.

2 Weekly News Q & A 1. How did begin his political career? 2. In what ways was the career of Layton s wife similar to his own? 3. How had the NDP been doing as a federal party before Layton took over as leader? 4. Layton led the NDP to what breakthrough in 2011? 5. What personal qualities did Layton have that made him well respected? Critical ThinkinG 1. Judging from Layton s interests as described in the first paragraph of the article, what does it mean to be left-ofcentre in your political views? 2. What challenges does the NDP face in the next while? What strengths could keep it going? 2

3 Political Cartoon A political cartoon uses symbols to exaggerate an opinion in a humorous way. The main purpose of the cartoon is to show you the artist s point of view on a situation. Take a look at the different elements in the image above. For each element, write a point or two about how the element is exaggerated or how it relates to the other elements. Filling s Shoes Very large pair of shoes Line of small people Using information from the article, put all of the elements together and explain in your own words what the cartoon is saying. 3

4 Word Power Using the words listed below, fill in the blanks in the following sentences. All of the words have been used in the article 1. He was unable to make the needed to be on the team. 2. The map where the treasure was hidden. 3. Julia will be the as class president. 4. John was about passing the test. 5. They were able to get the car for a very price. affordable, breakthrough, causes, commitment, councillor, dedicated, federal, inspire, momentum, optimistic, passion, poverty, previous, ranks, revealed, successor Quiz 1. started his career as a politician in the 1980s and 1990s. True False 2. In 2006 Layton was elected leader of the New Democratic Party. True False 3. Layton led the NDP through four. 4. Having the second largest number of seats, in 2011 the NDP formed the for the first time in the party s history. 5. Soon after the 2011 election, Layton revealed that he was suffering from and he died on August 22, 2011, at the age of

5 Weekly News Answer Key 1. How did begin his political career? He was a Toronto City Councillor in the 1980s and 1990s and it was here that he began to express his strong left-of-centre views. He entered federal politics in 2003 when he was elected leader of the NDP. 2. In what ways was the career of Layton s wife similar to his own? She was also a Toronto City Councillor and then also became a member of Parliament. 3. How had the NDP been doing as a federal party before Layton took over as leader? It had been struggling along, suffering from shrinking popularity and support. In the election before Layton took over, it had won only 13 seats and just over 8 percent of the popular vote. 4. Layton led the NDP to what breakthrough in 2011? In 2011 the NDP had a massive breakthrough, winning 102 seats and over 30 percent of the popular vote. With the second largest number of seats in Parliament, the NDP formed the Official Opposition for the first time in party history. 5. What personal qualities did Layton have that made him well respected? He was widely regarded as a politician with passion, honesty, and an ability to inspire others. Political Cartoon Filling s Shoes : The caption explains what is happening in the image below, so that you know to whom the shoes belong and what the small people are trying to do. Very large pair of shoes: The shoes belong to Jack Layton. They are so large because of the big impact he has had on the NDP. Line of small people: These people represent candidates who will be considered to replace Jack Layton as leader of the NDP. Put all of the elements together and explain in your own words what the cartoon is saying. Since he became the leader of the NDP in 2003, Jack Layton has brought the party from winning only 13 seats and just over 8 percent of the popular vote to winning 102 seats and over 30 percent of the popular vote. Recently, the NDP has formed the Official Opposition for the first time in the party s history. As well, Layton was regarded as a politician with passion, honesty, and an ability to inspire others. Finding a new leader for the NDP who will continue the momentum Layton started will be a tough job, especially with the large number of new and inexperienced NDP members of Parliament. Word Power 1. commitment 2. revealed 3. successor 4. optimistic 5. affordable Quiz 1. started his career as a politician in the 1980s and 1990s. True 2. In 2006 Layton was elected leader of the New Democratic Party. False. In Layton led the NDP through four elections. 4. Having the second largest number of seats, in 2011 the NDP formed the Official Opposition for the first time in the party s history. 5. Soon after the 2011 election, Layton revealed that he was suffering from cancer and he died on August 22, 2011, at the age of