Editing Jack Layton (section)

==Toronto City Council==
While at York and Ryerson, Layton developed close ties with a number of Toronto political figures including [[John Sewell]] and [[David Crombie]]. He was first elected to [[Toronto City Council]] during the [[1982 Toronto municipal election|1982 municipal election]], in a surprise upset against incumbent [[Gordon Chong]] as an [[underdog]]. Layton quickly became one of the council's most outspoken members and a leading figure on the left.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hayes |first1=David R. |title=A new star rising over left field |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/386627028 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=January 8, 1983 |id={{ProQuest|386627028}} |language=en }}</ref> He was one of the most vocal opponents of the massive [[SkyDome]] project,<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacLeod |first1=Robert |title=Layton urges SkyDome inquiry |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/385571439 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=September 12, 1991 |id={{ProQuest|385571439}} }}</ref> and an early advocate for rights for AIDS patients.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Monsebraaten |first1=Laurie |title=Alderman proposes $2.1 million AIDS team |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/435569953 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=May 6, 1987 |page=A6 |id={{ProQuest|435569953}} }}</ref> In 1984, Layton was fined for trespassing after distributing leaflets at the [[Toronto Eaton Centre]] during a strike by [[Eaton's]] employees, but the charge was later dismissed on free speech grounds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spears |first1=Tom |title=Alderman wins appeal for handing out leaflets at Eaton's during strike |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/435432906 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=May 27, 1986 |page=A18 |id={{ProQuest|435432906}} }}</ref> He was also one of the few opponents of Toronto's bid to host the [[1996 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=James |first1=Royson |title=Failure pinned on Jack Layton, poverty group |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436273311 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=September 19, 1990 |page=A3 |id={{ProQuest|436273311}} }}</ref> In 1985, Layton moved to the Metropolitan Toronto Council, in the first direct elections for members of that body.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Michael |title=Toronto Aldermen gearing up for first direct Metro election |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/435312560 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=July 16, 1985 |page=A6 |id={{ProQuest|435312560}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Layton proved right |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/386216144 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=November 13, 1985 |page=A17 |id={{ProQuest|386216144}}}}</ref> During the [[1988 Toronto municipal election|1988 municipal election]]s, Layton swapped roles with his ally [[Dale Martin (Canadian politician)|Dale Martin]], with Martin moving to Metro and Layton returning to Toronto City Council.{{cn|date=October 2024}} Layton won comfortably against former high school teacher Lois MacMillan-Walker.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Tom |title=Eggleton wins, council tilts left 'Reform' wave swamps veterans Beavis and Gee |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/435802003 |access-date=October 15, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=November 15, 1988 |page=B1|id={{ProQuest|435802003}} }}</ref> The election was a major victory for Layton as the reformist coalition of which he was the ''de facto'' head gained control of city council, the first time in city history a coalition of New Democrats and independents controlled council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Monsebraaten |first1=Laurie |title=Reformers on coucnil seek Toronto's 'rebirth' |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/435807319 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=November 19, 1988 |page=D1 |id={{ProQuest|435807319}} }}</ref>

On July 9, 1988, he married Hong Kong-born [[Toronto District School Board]] trustee [[Olivia Chow]] in a ceremony on [[Toronto Islands|Algonquin Island]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spears |first1=Tom |title=Busy trustee keeps to a hectic schedule |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/435752931 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=July 10, 1988 |page=A10 |id={{ProQuest|435752931}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postcity.com/Post-City-Magazines/May-2010/The-biggest-fight-of-their-marriage|first=Elizabeth|last=Beddall|title=The biggest fight of their marriage |publisher=Post City Magazines|date=May 2010|access-date=May 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403172049/http://www.postcity.com/Post-City-Magazines/May-2010/The-biggest-fight-of-their-marriage/ |archive-date=April 3, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Their whitewater rafting honeymoon plans had to be abandoned, however, when days before the wedding Layton collided with a newspaper box while bicycling.<ref>{{cite news |title=Layton sues for bike mishap that 'ruined' his honeymoon |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/435760248 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=July 5, 1988 |page=A7 |id={{ProQuest|435760248}} }}</ref> Chow later joined Layton on the Toronto City Council. She has been a candidate for the federal New Democrats five times, first winning her seat the third time in a close race against [[Tony Ianno]] in the 2006 Canadian election, and re-elected in 2008 and 2011. Chow resigned from federal politics in 2014 to [[2014 Toronto mayoral election|run for mayor of Toronto]]; she placed third. Chow would later be elected mayor in the [[2023 Toronto mayoral by-election|2023 mayoral by-election]].

Layton and Chow were also the subject of some dispute when a June 14, 1990, ''[[Toronto Star]]'' article by Tom Kerr accused them of unfairly living in a [[housing cooperative]] subsidized by the [[Government of Canada|federal government]], despite their high income.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Tom |title=Well-to-do Layton lives in 'affordable' co-op |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/149340144/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=June 14, 1990 |page=A1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Tom |title=Layton lives in low-rent co-op |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/149340258/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=June 14, 1990 |page=A30 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Layton and Chow had both lived in the Hazelburn co-op since 1985, and lived together in an $800 per month three-bedroom apartment after their marriage in 1988. By 1990, their combined annual income was $120,000, and in March of that year they began voluntarily paying an additional $325 per month to offset their share of the co-op's [[Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation]] subsidy, the only members of the co-op to do so. In response to the article, the co-op's board argued that having mixed-income tenants was crucial to the success of co-ops, and that the laws deliberately set aside apartments for those willing to pay market rates, such as Layton and Chow.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Tom |title=Co-op residents answer critics |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436242510 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=July 19, 1990 |page=A21 |id={{ProQuest|436242510}} }}</ref> During the late 1980s and early 1990s they maintained approximately 30% of their units as low income units and provided the rest at what they considered market rent. In June 1990, the city solicitor cleared the couple of any wrongdoing,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Polanyi |first1=Margaret |title=Layton cleared of wrongdoing Police say councillor committed no impropriety by living in co-op |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/385617456 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=August 17, 1990 |page=A8 |id={{ProQuest|385617456}} }}</ref> and later that month, Layton and Chow left the co-op and bought a house in [[Chinatown, Toronto|Toronto's Chinatown]] together with Chow's mother, a move they said had been planned for some time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Andrew |title=Layton says he's moving from co-op |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436229892 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=June 24, 1990 |page=A3 |id={{ProQuest|436229892}} }}</ref> Former Toronto mayor John Sewell later wrote in ''[[Now (newspaper)|NOW]]'' that rival Toronto city councillor [[Tom Jakobek]] had given the story to Tom Kerr.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Morris |title=Sensational tabloids are enticing a suspicious public |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/385446339 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=February 4, 1992 |page=D1 |id={{ProQuest|385446339}} }}</ref>

Originally known for coming to council meetings in blue jeans with unkempt hair, Layton worked to change his image to run for mayor in the [[1991 Toronto municipal election|1991 civic election]]. He also started wearing contact lenses, abandoning his glasses, and traded in his blue jeans for suits.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byers |first1=Jim |title=Jack Layton's trim new look triggers rumor mill at city hall |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/435557253 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=February 5, 1987 |page=A6 |id={{ProQuest|435557253}} }}</ref> In February 1991, Layton became the first official NDP candidate for the mayoralty, pitting him against centrist incumbent [[Art Eggleton]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=David |title=Councillor Jack Layton's campaign to become mayor of Toronto is going to be such a high powered affair I suspect Layton could well defeat Arthur Eggleton this coming November. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436359094 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=February 6, 1991 |page=A25 |id={{ProQuest|436359094}} }}</ref> In a move that surprised many, Eggleton elected not to run again.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Tom |title=Eggleton out of race for mayor |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436410375 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=May 2, 1991 |page=A1 |id={{ProQuest|436410375}} |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref>

Layton was opposed by three right-of-centre candidates: [[Susan Fish]], [[June Rowlands]], and [[Betty Disero]]. Right-wing support soon coalesced around former city councillor Rowlands, preventing the internal divisions Layton needed to win office.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byers |first1=Jim |title=Rowlands leads by 2-1 margin But 55% want more choice for mayor, Star poll shows |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436521875 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=November 9, 1991 |page=A1 |id={{ProQuest|436521875}} |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> Layton was also hurt by the growing unpopularity of the provincial NDP government of [[Bob Rae]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacLeod |first1=Robert |title=Rae's misfortunes called drag on Layton Toronto mayoral candidate running under NDP banner |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/385618615 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=June 15, 1991 |page=A7 |id={{ProQuest|385618615}} |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> and by his earlier opposition to [[Bids for the 1996 Summer Olympics|Toronto's Olympic bid]]. Bid organizer [[Paul Henderson (sailor)|Paul Henderson]] accused Layton and his allies of costing Toronto the event.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byers |first1=Jim |title=Guide to the real winners, losers Apparent victories are defeats in topsy-turvy world of politics |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436517231 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=November 15, 1991 |page=A12 |id={{ProQuest|436517231}} }}</ref> Despite this, October polls showed Layton only four points behind Rowlands, with 36% support.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byers |first1=Jim |title=Rowlands just ahead of Layton, Star poll finds |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436499703 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=October 10, 1991 |page=A1 |id={{ProQuest|436499703}} }}</ref> However, on October 17, Fish, a former provincial Progressive Conservative cabinet minister who had only 19% support, pulled out of the race, and many of her supporters moved to Rowlands. Layton lost the November 12 election by a considerable margin.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byers |first1=Jim |title=Layton beaten by Rowlands in all but one of 16 wards |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436514888 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=November 21, 1991 |page=A7 |id={{ProQuest|436514888}} }}</ref> However, in the same election Olivia Chow easily won a seat on city council.

In November 1991, Layton co-founded the [[White Ribbon Campaign]] of men working to end male [[violence against women]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Caplan |first1=Gerald |author1-link=Gerald Caplan |title=Violence against women: an international epidemic |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2385627608 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=July 30, 2010 |id={{ProQuest|2385627608}} }}</ref> Layton returned to academia and also founded the Green Catalyst Group Inc., an environmental consulting business.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lakey |first1=Jack |title=The mellowing of Jack Layton |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/437882349 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=January 4, 1999 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|437882349}} }}</ref> In 1993, he ran for the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]] in the riding of [[Toronto Centre|Rosedale]] for the NDP, but finished fourth in the generally Liberal riding. In 1994, he returned to Metropolitan Toronto Council, succeeding Roger Hollander in the Don River ward, and he resumed his high-profile role in local politics; following the "megacity" merger of Metropolitan Toronto into the current city of Toronto, he was again re-elected to Toronto City Council, serving alongside [[Pam McConnell]] in a two-member ward. He remained on Toronto City Council until pursuing the leadership of the federal New Democrats. He also came to national attention as the leader of the [[Federation of Canadian Municipalities]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Layton launches bid to lead NDP |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province/149341364/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[The Province]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |date=July 23, 2002 |location=Ottawa |page=A22 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Federally, he ran again in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997 election]], this time in the neighbouring riding of [[Toronto—Danforth (federal electoral district)|Toronto—Danforth]], but lost to incumbent [[Dennis Mills]] by a wide margin. In June 1999, as chair of Toronto's environmental task force, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, he was instrumental in the preliminary phases of the [[WindShare]] [[wind power]] [[cooperative]] in Toronto through the Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McAndrew |first1=Brian |title=Hydro backs waterfront windmill plan |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/437980342 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=July 1, 1999 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|437980342}} }}</ref>