Layton adds eight more seats to his kitchen table

Toronto-Danforth MP and federal NDP leader Jack Layton and his wife, at Kool HAUS in Downtown Toronto

Picture by Khalid Magram

By AYOUB ANSARI
AND KHALID MAGRAM

Throughout the election campaign, Toronto-Danforth MP and federal NDP leader, Jack Layton said he was running to be prime minister. Although, Layton did not win the top job, that did not stop him for reiterating his point on the election night.

“My name is Jack Layton, and to put ordinary families first I ran for prime minister,” he said, “We didn’t quite get the gold medal this election, but we did give it our best shot and it was a very good shot.

On Oct. 14, around 8:30 p.m., Layton, accompanied by his wife, Olivia Chow, the Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina came to downtown Toronto’s KoolHaus, a makeshift NDP headquarters for the election after-party.

A small, but loud crowd of exuberant supporters, carrying banners and chanting, “Strong leader,” greeted the couple. Cameras flashed intermittently, and the couple briefly paused for the media, before heading upstairs to watch the results.

There was singing by Peter Katz, and cheers from supporters. After Chow won the nail-biting race for Trinity-Spadina, there was a sigh of relief. (She won 24,442 votes (40.88 per cent) her opponent Christine Innes managed 20,967(35.06 per cent)

“We did it! Together we said no to Stephen Harper’s wrong direction,” Chow told NDP supporters.

Just before midnight, the moment all were waiting for had arrived. Layton delivered a speech to hundreds of enthusiastic people. Supporters of all ages and backgrounds were present.

“We put concerns of working families’ front and centre in this election. This is what New Democrats do, day in and day out, and that’s what we’re going to do in the next Parliament,” Layton said.

In this federal election, Layton campaigned in over 100 ridings, took part in 84 events, and held 45 rallies.

Because of Layton’s often use of the phrase ‘We’ll defend you at the kitchen table, not the boardroom table,’ during the campaign, the media dubbed the plane he used to criss-cross the country during the campaign, “Kitchen Air.” In Windsor, Ont., reporters even greeted Layton by bringing out a kitchen table to the airport tarmac to conduct their interviews.

Jack Layton, Toronto-Danforth incumbent sailed to victory garnering 20,416 votes, almost 45 per cent of the riding.

Layton thanked his supporters and assured them he will be there for his riding.

“It is an honour to serve you, and I’ll do all I can for our riding,” Layton said.

Layton has represented Toronto-Danforth in the House of Commons since the 2004 federal election. He defeated his closest rival, Liberal rookie, Andrew Lang by more than 7,000 votes.

Peter Tabuns, the NDP representative for the riding at the provincial level was present at the event, and said he was happy the riding has a strong voice at the federal level.

“Jack’s victory in Toronto-Danforth is good for this community,” Tabuns said.

~ by Khalid Magram on November 2, 2008.