Recent Event Highlights: NDP gains in federal election, NDP gains, Federal election loss, Metropolitan Toronto Council, again, Toronto City Council, again, Metropolitan Toronto Council, and 11 more...
Created by aterry on Feb 5, 2010
Last updated: 03/11/10 at 07:59 PM
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Layton announces he’s battling prostate cancer.
NDP members vote against holding a leadership convention to replace Layton.
The NDP gains eight new seats in federal election in October, bringing its total to 37. Just over a month later, the NDP strikes a coalition deal with the Liberals and Bloc Quebecois. Prime Minister Stephen Harper prorogues parliament a few days later, and the coalition falls apart shortly after.
The NDP makes further gains in the federal election, increasing the party’s total in the House of Commons to 29 seats.
Sponsorship scandal damages the Liberals, who lead a minority government. The Conservatives and Bloc Quebec push for a snap election, so the Liberals approach the NDP for support. Layton demands the cancellation of a proposed corporate tax in exchange for NDP support. Layton’s amendments are passed, after two non-confidence votes, in June.
In the federal election, the NDP wins 19 seats in the House of Commons, and 15 per cent of the popular vote, its best result in 16 years. Layton finally wins a federal seat, claiming victory in the Toronto-Danforth riding.
He is elected leader of the NDP. He takes aim at the Liberal government, dismissing its policies as too conservative. He also bolsters NDP popularity in Quebec.
He runs in the federal election, but fails to win a seat.
He returns to Metropolitan Toronto Council.
He runs in the federal election, but fails to win a seat.
He runs for mayor as the NDP candidate, and loses. Layton returns to academia and establishes an environmental consulting business.
He returns to Toronto City Council, defeating a former high school teacher in municipal elections. Layton and a group of reformists hold sway, marking the first time a coalition of New Democrats and independents control the council.
He marries Toronto District School Board trustee Olivia Chow.
He moves to the Metropolitan Toronto Council, in the first direction election for that body.
His marriage ends.
He becomes a Toronto City Councillor.
The family moves to Toronto, where Layton attends York University. He earns his PhD in political science, and goes on to become a professor at Ryerson. He also becomes an activist and writes several books.
He marries his high school sweetheart, Sally Halford. Together, they have two children, Sarah and Mike.
John Gilbert Layton is born in Montreal to a politically active family. His paternal grandfather was a provincial cabinet minister. His father was a Liberal Party activist in the 1960s and 1970s. He was also a Progressive Conservative MP and cabinet minister.
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