NDP Leader Jack Layton arrives at a party convention in Vancouver in June. Layton died Monday after a battle with cancer. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)
Jack Layton, leader of the NDP and a longtime municipal politician in Toronto, died at 61 on Monday after battling cancer.
Layton, who began as a community organizer and activist in Toronto before moving into politics, was known for being passionate about social justice issues, from poverty to violence against women. He was lauded as a formidable debater who led the NDP to official opposition status for the first time in the party's history during the last federal election.
Although he's passed on, many of his political ideas and philosophies are articulated in the books he's written. Here's a look at the writings of Jack Layton.
Homelessness: The Making and Unmaking of a Crisis
Layton's earlier experiences as activist and Toronto city councillor informed this examination of Canada's housing policies. He was chair of the City Council's Homeless Strategy Committee, which worked to find innovative solutions to the housing crisis. In this book published in 2000, he combines his own personal stories with research and analysis from a wide variety of sources, including social scientists, journalists, members of the clergy, housing experts and the homeless themselves, to provide an overview of the housing crisis in Canada, and some possible solutions.
Find out more at
Penguin Canada.
Speaking Out Louder: Ideas That Work for Canadians
Layton became leader of the NDP in 2003, and went on to become one of the country's most prominent politicians. In 2006, he published a book that outlined his own vision for Canada and his views on dealing with key social, economic, environmental and health issues. Within the book's pages, he also challenges the direction of the Paul Martin-led Liberals and the Stephen Harper-led Conservatives.
Have you read Jack Layton's books? What do you think his political legacy will be? Let us know in the comments below.
