Bring On Election, Says Layton

For only the second time in the NDP’s history, the party will be able to match the Conservatives dollar-for-dollar in the next election.

Jack Layton has had a pretty tough year, from his announcement in February that he was battling prostate cancer to a nearly backbreaking internal divide in his caucus over the long-gun registry. But in an end-of-year interview, Layton said his party is primed and ready to go for the next election, which could come as early as February. The NDP beat its own record for fundraising this year and has paid off all of its debt from the 2008 campaign. The 2011 campaign plane has already been booked and for only the second time the party will be able to spend the legal maximum in its bid to improve on the 36 seats it holds in the House of Commons.