Editing Jack Layton (section)

===2011 campaign===
{{further|2011 Canadian federal election}}
The day after the successful passing of the motion, Layton started the NDP election campaign, first with a speech in [[Ottawa]] followed later in the day by an event in [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]].<ref>[http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/djclimenhaga/2011/03/jack-laytons-campaign-opener-edmonton-suggests-ndp-strategy-come Jack Layton's campaign opener in Edmonton suggests NDP strategy to come] ''rabble.ca'', March 27, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.</ref> Questions about Layton's health due to a recent hip surgery were often directed to him during the campaign, with Layton insisting that he was healthy enough to lead.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2011/03/layton-opens-up-about-his-health.html Layton opens up about his health] ''CBC News'', March 29, 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jack-layton-the-fighter-1.1031145 Jack Layton: The fighter] ''CBC News'', March 25, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2011.</ref> On March 29, 2011, the New Democrats presented their first real campaign promise, a proposal to cap credit card rates to reduce credit card debt.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/layton-promises-to-cap-credit-card-rates-1.1031437 Layton promises to cap credit card rates] ''CBC News'', March 29, 2011.</ref>
[[File:Layton Quebec 18042011-1.jpg|thumb|upright|Layton with his chief of staff, [[Anne McGrath]], campaigning in Quebec City]]
Unlike the previous election, Layton stated he was in favour of [[Green Party of Canada|Green Party]] leader [[Elizabeth May]] speaking at the leaders debates, despite the fact that she was once again being discouraged by the Canadian media networks.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/debate-over-may-diverts-campaign-1.1105297 Debate over May diverts campaign] ''CBC News'', March 30, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2011.</ref> The NDP also embarked upon the largest advertising campaign in its history, focusing on the Harper government's health care record.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-seeks-to-shape-health-debate-with-ads-1.1102715 NDP seeks to shape health debate with ads] ''CBC News'', March 30, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2011.</ref> He also dedicated the federal election campaign to former [[Premier of Saskatchewan|Saskatchewan premier]] [[Allan Blakeney]], who died about halfway through the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/former-saskatchewan-premier-allan-blakeney-dies-of-cancer/article4182127/ |title=Former Sask. Premier Allan Blakeney dies of cancer, Opposition leader says |work=The Globe and Mail |date=April 16, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2014 }}</ref>

Despite entering the campaign with relatively low poll numbers,<ref>{{cite journal|author=Richard J. Brennan National Affairs Writer|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/972241--ndp-fortunes-falling-fast-in-latest-poll|title=NDP fortunes falling fast in latest poll|journal=Toronto Star |date=April 9, 2011|access-date=April 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Gloria Galloway|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/layton-remains-game-despite-polls-showing-hes-the-odd-man-out/article575778/|title=Layton remains game despite polls showing he's the odd man out|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=April 8, 2011|access-date=March 12, 2014|location=Toronto}}</ref> the NDP recovered and increased their support significantly after Layton's performance in the [[2011 Canadian leaders debates|leaders debates]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Joanna Smith Ottawa Bureau|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/976225|title=NDP moves into tie with Liberals: Poll|work=Toronto Star |date=April 13, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/canada-politics-idUSN1822211320110418|title=Canada's NDP pushes for bigger place in election sun|work=Reuters|date=February 14, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2011|first=Randall|last=Palmer}}</ref> In the English-language debate, Layton criticized [[Michael Ignatieff]]'s poor attendance record in the House of Commons, saying "You know, most Canadians, if they don't show up for work, they don't get a promotion!", to which Ignatieff was unable to respond effectively.<ref>Stinson, S. (August 23, 2011). [http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/08/23/scott-stinson-10-moments-that-helped-shape-layton%E2%80%99s-political-career/ Scott Stinson: 10 moments that helped shape Layton's political career] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120712043947/http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/08/23/scott-stinson-10-moments-that-helped-shape-layton%E2%80%99s-political-career/ |date=July 12, 2012 }}. ''National Post''. Retrieved on: September 19, 2011.</ref><ref>Wells, P. (May 7, 2011). [http://www.macleans.ca/2011/05/07/turning-up-the-heat/ The untold story of the 2011 election: Chapter 4 – Turning up the heat]. ''Maclean's''. Retrieved September 19, 2011.</ref><ref>Smith, Joanna. (April 20, 2011). [https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/977416--for-layton-the-real-battle-is-with-ignatieff For Layton, the real battle is with Ignatieff]. ''the star.com''. Retrieved on: September 19, 2011.</ref> ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' described Layton's attack as a "knock-out punch" while the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' stated it was the "pivot in the debate [that] was a turning point in the federal campaign". Layton's New Democrats successfully capitalized on Ignatieff's attendance record in the Toronto area.<ref>[http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ndp-makes-hay-of-ignatieff-truancy-as-serene-liberals-lash-out/article1997497/?service=mobile "NDP makes hay of Ignatieff truancy as 'serene' Liberals lash out"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108074935/http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ndp-makes-hay-of-ignatieff-truancy-as-serene-liberals-lash-out/article1997497/?service=mobile |date=January 8, 2015 }}. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', September 10, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/05/07/exclusive_what_really_sunk_michael_ignatieff_and_the_liberals.html "Exclusive: What really sunk Michael Ignatieff and the Liberals"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 7, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.torontosun.com/news/decision2011/2011/04/13/17976836.html "Layton puts egg on Iggy's face in debate"]. ''[[Toronto Sun]]'', April 13, 2011.</ref>

On February 4, 2011, Layton attended a rally against [[usage-based billing in Canada|usage-based billing]] in Toronto with MPs [[Dan McTeague]], [[Olivia Chow]], [[Peggy Nash]] and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/02/04/usage-based-billing-rally-smaller-than-expected-taken-over-by-ndp/|title=Usage-based billing rally smaller than expected, taken over by NDP|publisher=News.nationalpost.com|date=February 4, 2011|access-date=February 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tochilin|first=Andrey|url=http://vimeo.com/19583788|title=NDP. Stop the Meter on Vimeo|publisher=Vimeo.com|access-date=February 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbroadbandfoundation.org/content/canadian-ubb-protest-february-2011-0|title=Canadian UBB Protest February 2011|publisher=World Broadband Foundation|access-date=February 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416163519/http://www.worldbroadbandfoundation.org/content/canadian-ubb-protest-february-2011-0|archive-date=April 16, 2013}}</ref> His attendance at this rally was accompanied by several press releases by the NDP denouncing metered internet usage in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|author=Don Davies |url=http://dondavies.ndp.ca/post/ndp-slams-crtcs-approval-of-usage-based-billing-for-internet-service |title=NDP slams CRTC's approval of usage-based billing for Internet service |publisher=Dondavies.ndp.ca |date=January 21, 2011 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051303/http://dondavies.ndp.ca/post/ndp-slams-crtcs-approval-of-usage-based-billing-for-internet-service |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndp.ca/press/canadians-lose-out-with-internet-metered-billing|title=Canadians lose out with internet metered billing|publisher=Ndp.ca|date=January 20, 2011|access-date=February 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205185409/http://www.ndp.ca/press/canadians-lose-out-with-internet-metered-billing|archive-date=February 5, 2012}}</ref>

The NDP surge began in Quebec, with the NDP surprising many observers by surpassing the previously front-running Bloc in Quebec.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/layton-sees-growing-quebec-support-targets-liberals-1.1076764|title=Layton sees growing Quebec support, targets Liberals|publisher=CBC|location=Canada|date=April 18, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2011}}</ref> In Canada overall, the NDP surged past the Liberals to take the second place behind the Conservatives; in Quebec, the NDP took first place.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/canada-us-politics-ekos-idCATRE73O5UR20110425|title=NDP surges to strong second place in poll|work=Reuters |date=April 25, 2011|access-date=April 25, 2011|first=Janet|last=Guttsman}}</ref><ref name="EKOS">{{cite web|url=http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/full_report_april_21_2011.pdf|title=NDP Breakout Continues As Everyone Else Spins Wheels|access-date =April 23, 2011|last=[[EKOS Research Associates|EKOS]]|date=April 2011}}</ref> The NDP surge became the dominant narrative of the last week of the campaign, as other parties turned their attacks on the party and Layton.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/decision-canada/surge+dominates+talk+federal+campaign+trail/4685960/story.html|title=NDP surge dominates talk on federal campaign trail|work=Vancouver Sun|date=April 27, 2011|access-date=April 27, 2011|archive-date=May 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502043910/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/decision-canada/surge+dominates+talk+federal+campaign+trail/4685960/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Jack Layton 2011-04-18.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Layton in Quebec during the federal electoral campaign]] 
On April 29, 2011, a retired police officer told the [[Sun News Network]] and the ''[[Toronto Sun]]'' newspaper that in 1996, Layton had been found in a [[Massage parlor|massage parlour]] when police, looking for underage Asian [[sex worker]]s, raided the establishment. The police informed Layton of the potentially questionable use of the business and recommended that he avoid it in the future. No charges were filed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pazzano|first=Sam|title=Sun News Exclusive|url=http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/924574695001|publisher=Sun News Network|access-date=April 30, 2011|date=April 29, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503040106/http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/924574695001|archive-date=May 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pizzano|first=Sam|title=Layton found in bawdy house: Ex-cop|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/04/29/layton-found-in-toronto-bawdy-house-former-cop|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=April 30, 2011|date=April 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Chow|first=Olivia|title=Layton slams 'smear campaign' over massage-parlour allegations|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/04/29/layton-was-present-during-1996-police-raid-of-massage-clinic-but-not-charged-with-any-wrongdoing-chow/|work=National Post |location=Canada |access-date=April 30, 2011|date=April 29, 2011}}</ref> The ''Sun'' later ran a follow-up piece, in which Toronto city councillor [[Giorgio Mammoliti]] criticized Layton.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yuen|first=Jenny|title=T.O. councillor skeptical of Layton story|url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/CanadaVotes/News/2011/04/30/18087876.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707061749/http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/CanadaVotes/News/2011/04/30/18087876.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2012|publisher=canoe.ca|access-date=April 30, 2011}}</ref> Layton has said there was no wrongdoing in the matter, saying that he simply "went for a massage at a community clinic" and did not return after the police advised him not to.<ref>{{cite news|title=Layton confident voters will dismiss massage parlour 'smear campaign'|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/layton-confident-voters-will-dismiss-massage-parlour-smear-campaign/article2005429|work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=April 30, 2011|date=April 30, 2011|location=Toronto}}</ref> He also referred to the release of the police report as a [[smear campaign]] against him.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Joanna|title=Layton camp in damage control over massage parlour allegations|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/983321--layton-camp-denies-alleged-massage-parlour-incident?bn=1|work=The Star|access-date=April 30, 2011|date=April 29, 2011|location=Toronto}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NDP responds to Layton massage-visit allegations|url=http://www.canada.com/responds+Layton+massage+visit+allegations/4701230/story.html|publisher=Postmedia News|access-date=April 30, 2011|date=April 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Layton denies Sun Media's massage parlour allegations|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/layton-denies-sun-media-s-massage-parlour-allegations-1.637626|publisher=CTV News|access-date=April 30, 2011|date=April 30, 2011}}</ref><ref name="cbc110429">{{cite news|title=Leak of police notes in Layton report probed|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/leak-of-police-notes-in-layton-report-probed-1.1035231|work=[[CBC News]]|access-date=April 30, 2011|date=April 29, 2011}}</ref> [[Bloc Québécois]] leader [[Gilles Duceppe]] also dismissed the claim.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dougherty |first=Kevin |title=Gilles Duceppe dismisses Jack Layton massage story |url=https://montrealgazette.com/health/Gilles+Duceppe+dismisses+Jack+Layton+massage+story/4704174/story.html |access-date=April 30, 2011 |newspaper=The Gazette |date=April 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503201506/http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Gilles%2BDuceppe%2Bdismisses%2BJack%2BLayton%2Bmassage%2Bstory/4704174/story.html |archive-date=May 3, 2011 }}</ref> A columnist for the ''[[National Post]]'' suggested that it was a Liberal insider that leaked the story, although a Liberal Party spokesman denied that they had anything to do with it.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.macleans.ca/2011/05/02/liberal-insider-leaked-story-of-laytons-massage-says-columnist/|title=Liberal insider leaked story of Layton's massage, says columnist|magazine=Maclean's|date=May 2, 2011|access-date=December 21, 2011}}</ref>

A subsequent ''Toronto Star'' column stated that most contributors to online discussions agreed there was a smear campaign against Layton.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gordon|first=Andrea|title=Online debate more about 'smear job' than Layton|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/983511--online-debate-more-about-smear-job-than-layton|access-date=April 30, 2011|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=April 30, 2011}}</ref> As for political damage from this story, that same day's update of the [[Nanos Research|Nanos]] Leadership Index, which assesses public opinion on the Canadian federal leaders' trustworthiness, competence and vision for Canada, saw Layton rise from a score of 80 to a score of 97, surpassing Harper's 88 and Ignatieff's 39. The polling company speculated this improvement is due to strong sympathy by the public for a political candidate they judged as being unfairly maligned.<ref>{{cite news|last=Galloway|first=Gloria|date=May 1, 2011|title=Gap between Tories, NDP narrows to 6 points in 11th-hour polling|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/gap-between-tories-ndp-narrows-to-6-points-in-11th-hour-polling/article2005684/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503191529/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/gap-between-tories-ndp-narrows-to-6-points-in-11th-hour-polling/article2005684/|access-date=May 2, 2011|archive-date=May 3, 2011}}</ref> The [[Toronto Police Service]] launched an investigation into how official police notes were leaked to [[Sun Media]]. Police notebooks are closely guarded and may contain unfounded and unproven allegations.<ref name="cbc110429"/> On May 5, 2011, it was announced that no charges would be laid with regards to the leaked information.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/decision-canada/charges+Layton+massage+parlour+leak+Police/4735627/story.html|title=No charges in Layton massage parlour leak: Police|work=Vancouver Sun|date=May 5, 2011|access-date=June 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626075105/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/charges+Layton+massage+parlour+leak+Police/4735627/story.html|archive-date=June 26, 2011}}</ref>

Layton appeared on the [[Télévision de Radio-Canada|Radio-Canada]] talk show ''[[Tout le monde en parle (Quebec)|Tout le monde en parle]]'' on April 3, an appearance that was credited for improving his party's standing among Francophone voters due to his informal Québécois French.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/layton-remains-game-despite-polls-showing-hes-the-odd-man-out/article575778/ |title=Three leaders, three accents |first=Lysiane |last=Gagnon |date=April 18, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2014 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail }}</ref> The show is the most popular program in Quebec.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Montreal Gazette |title=Sovereignist Lepage opened door for Layton |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/Jack+Layton+strong+connection+with+Quebec+province+loved+back/5290922/story.html |author=PHILIP AUTHIER |date=May 7, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2011 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He was also perceived to have performed well in the televised French-language party leaders' debate on April 13.

In the May 2, 2011, election, Layton led the NDP to 103 seats, more than double its previous high. This was also enough to make the NDP the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Official Opposition]] for the first time. The NDP gains were partly due to a major surge in [[Quebec]] as the party won 59 of the province's 75 seats, dominating Montreal and sweeping [[Quebec City]] and the [[Outaouais]], although the NDP also won more seats than any other opposition party in the rest of Canada. The NDP had gone into the election with only one seat in Quebec, that of [[Thomas Mulcair]], and had won but a single seat in the province historically ([[Phil Edmonston]] in a 1990 by-election). Many of these gains came at the expense of the Bloc, which was reduced to a four-seat rump without official party status in Parliament.