The House of Commons seat for Toronto-Danforth may be empty in Ottawa, but back in the riding candidates are rising up to fill the void left by Jack Layton’s death in August.
Local NDP members will descend on the Metropolitan Community Church, where Layton worshipped, on Monday night to choose the person who will represent their party in the upcoming by-election.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has until Feb. 26 to announce the date of the by-election, but the riding’s NDP community is moving forward, ready or not.
Three people are in the running: environmentalist and lawyer Justin Duncan, York University law professor Craig Scott and Layton’s constituency assistant Claire Prashaw.
None wants to replace Layton, but someone must take on his job representing the people of Toronto-Danforth. A separate race is being contested for the leadership of the NDP nationally.
“Pretty much everyone I speak to says we don’t want to be going through this right now, and I’m certainly in the same boat,” said Duncan, who grew up in Niagara Falls, but now lives in the riding.
What’s pushing Duncan on is a desire to continue the work Layton started.
The dogged leader of the New Democrats lost his fight with cancer on Aug. 22, 2011, after catapulting the party to the position of the Official Opposition.
Layton’s death prompted a national outpouring of grief for the mustached man who seemed to have a wellspring of optimism, but the epicentre of that loss was undoubtedly in Toronto, where Layton started his political career as a city councillor in 1982.
When he died, thousands of Torontonians grieved him publicly at his office, city hall or at his funeral, and many mourn his loss.
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“It’s very painful. Jack was my boss and my mentor and my friend but at the same time, Jack gave us so much hope and inspiration to continue going forward. He would not want anyone to stop,” said Prashaw, a single mother who has worked in Layton’s Toronto office for over a year.
As if to underscore that message, Layton’s wife Olivia Chow and son, Michael, will be at Monday’s meeting, a visual sign of their support as the party moves forward.
“Although it is very difficult it is also very important, showing we are all moving forward together,” Prashaw said.
The pain of Layton’s death stirred up a sense of urgency and duty in Scott – a feeling he found an outlet for when he was asked to let his name stand as nominee.
“People have to step forward after Jack’s example,” he said. “Being an academic wasn’t enough. I needed to get engaged.”
Scott described campaigning in Layton’s shadow as intimidating and humbling, but said most constituents simply expect candidates to do justice to Layton’s legacy, not be a carbon copy of the man.
“I’m following in his footsteps, but I am not standing in his shoes,” Scott said.
Layton won’t necessarily be succeeded by a member of his party. The winner after Monday night will have to face their political opponents from other parties.
The Liberal Party has yet to unveil a list of nominees, but riding association president Amiel Blajchman said it will be competitive even in light of Layton’s past dominance.
“This was Jack Layton’s riding, but this election is not about Jack Layton’s legacy,” Blajchman said. “This election is about the Toronto-Danforth and the riding and who is going to represent it.”
Dennis Mills, a Liberal, held the seat for 16 years before being dethroned by Layton in 2004.
The riding has always been held by an NDP or Liberal since its creation in 1979, making the Conservatives the underdog.
“I’d love to have a star candidate,” said Scott Davie, the president of the Conservative riding association.
The Conservatives are waiting to approve nominees until the by-election date is announced, but Davie said whoever steps forward can’t be afraid of a challenge or the long game.
“Often the war isn’t won in a battle,” he said. “We would hope the person would look at things in terms of a long term approach if they don’t win this time.”
Conservative candidate Katarina Von Koenig clinched 14 per cent of the vote in 2011, compared to Layton’s 60 per cent and Liberal candidate Andrew Lang’s 18 per cent.
But with the Conservatives making big gains in the Greater Toronto Area during 2011, Davie said anything is possible in Toronto-Danforth.
NDP candidates aren’t taking a win for granted either.
“There will be a lot of competition,” Duncan said. “The Liberals are going to want that seat back.”
Prashaw said no riding is ever safe, not even Jack Layton’s, and winning will depend on hard work. The reward, according to Prashaw, will be showing the country the NDP is united and ready to replace the Conservatives.
Defeat on the other hand, says Scott, would offend Layton’s legacy.
“It would be disaster from that perspective if the riding were to change hands,” he said. “It would completely fail to capture what he had accomplished and the spirit in which he lived his life.”
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