Jack Layton and his Legacy

One of Jack Layton's final words.

     Jack Layton is not a person you meet everyday, especially one that's in politics. He was known as the "healthcare" guy in our country for his countless acts to enforce healthcare and make life a better place. He was different. He wasn't the same old politician you see everyday. He had this thing where people like him, friend or foe. I always thought it wasn't true until I say friends and foes mourning his death. He was a true politician.

     He became captain of the NDP in 2003. At that time the NDP had become the laughing stock of the House of Commons and was losing grip on what it was saying. Then Jack came along even though he was only a city counselor before with no experience in Ottawa politics. He then turned a losing party into a winner with the 2011 election turning the party into the Official Opposition which it has never reached before. Furthermore, he influenced our health care system and negotiating with other parties to get not only what he wanted, but what all Canadians wanted: healthcare and affordable housing. He gave the basic necessities we all need but forget most of the time.

    He was also one of the few or should I say only leader that could actually connect with voters. Jack managed to know what people want and how to connect with them. That really showed when Quebec was first painted orange NDP for the first time after the Bloc had a monopoly on Quebec. He was a leader who was serious and knew how to have a good time. He always has a simple message so everyone can actually get it. Not only that, he looks at the good side of things. He doesn't show a lot of attack ads, instead showing ways the NDP would be different instead of saying that the Conservatives are creating more tax cuts for businesses or Michael Ignatief is corrupt since he lived in America previously.

     Jack Layton may have died on August 22, 2011 peacefully to unite a country and to bring change. He doesn't care about friends or foes as he treats them all the same. He works with people instead of fighting and tried to get things done. A type of man we won't see for a long time. A state funeral has been planned by Prime Minister Stephen Harper which is very unusual showing that Layton made many friends even though they were political foes.