Community reaction to NDP win in Jack Layton's former riding

NDP candidate Craig Scott easily won Monday's byelection in Jack Layton's former riding of Toronto-Danforth. (Canadian Press) The federal riding of Toronto-Danforth, formerly held by the late Jack Layton, remains in NDP hands following the election of law professor and human rights lawyer Craig Scott.

Scott won Monday's by-election with almost 60 per cent of the vote - the same level of support that Layton himself enjoyed in last May's election.

Liberal Grant Gordon was a distant second with 29 per cent of the vote, while Conservative Andrew Keyes garnered just five per cent.

The victory is also a symbolic one for the NDP after Layton's death in August. His legacy loomed large during the election and, indeed, during Scott's victory speech.

"It looks like the 'Orange Crush' is here to stay," he said, using the much-used description of the NDP's massive success in the federal election.

He then quoted Layton's famous final letter, saying, "We have chosen love, we've chosen hope, we've chosen optimism."

CBC Community members in the riding and far outside it had much to say about the win.

• "Hey, congrats to Mr. Scott. I may not have agreed totally with Mr. Layton on every issue, but no one can take away his amazing leadership of the NDP in the last fed election. And it's only fitting the riding remain orange." - Trajan
• "Congrats Mr. Scott. You have some very big shoes to fill. Good luck." - noonespecial
• "Congratulations to Craig Scott and the NDP. We really need a human rights lawyer in parliament right now. There is much work to be done protecting the human rights that Harper is trying to eliminate." - lilthomas 
• "Well good for him and good for them. I'm not an NDP voter, but I don't hate them. It just wouldn't have been right if Jack were replaced by a Grit or Tory in his own riding right now. Even though he's not a party leader, I truly hope this guy is as popular with his constituents as Jack Layton was. ... All the best to Craig Scott in his new position." - Vegan Carnivore
• "Huge disappointment for the Liberals. There was a strong feeling that, with Jack gone, they'd be able to win this one back." - Harry Johnson 
• "Big deal. They could've put an orange blazer on a chicken and it would've won. No surprise." - wayne g.
  

Some interpreted the poor performance of the Conservative Party as a taste of things to come, while others cautioned against extrapolating from the results.

• "Take a good look, Cons. This is what a majority vote actually looks like." - NedLimpopo
• "And they won the riding in a landslide, there is no doubt that the NDP will do well with this new addition to their ranks, Harper should be worried right about now." - Unruly Citizen 
• "Just some background information for those living outside Toronto. This riding has not gone Tory since Barbara McDougall won it in 1984 in Brian Mulroney's landslide victory. It is basically a two-way race between the NDP and the Liberals." - EdmondDantes 
• "I get a laugh from these lefties that think this by-election result is an indication of the Conservatives' demise in the next election. Enjoy today because that's all you're going to have to be happy about for a long, long time. " - Auggiedoggy 
• "This is a by-election, three years before the next election. To be honest no matter how any party wants to spin it, it is meaningless." - Gambitdude
  

What significance do you see in Scott's victory in the Toronto-Danforth by-election, if any? Are you surprised by the results?

What is your riding? If a by-election was held there today, who do you think would win the seat?