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A supporter photographs, from right to left, Mike Layton, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, interim Federal NDP Leader Nycole Turmel, and Sarah Layton while marching in Toronto's Labour Day parade in memory of Jack Layton Monday, September 5, 2011.Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press

Jack Layton was front and centre at a Toronto Labour Day march he couldn't attend in person: His face on placards, last words on buttons and hats, and his name on the back of T-shirts plugging the provincial NDP through its former federal leaders.

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath dedicated the party's Monday march to Mr. Layton, who died of cancer last month shortly after leading the federal NDP to a historic victory May 2.

The memorial doubled as a chance to capitalize on the federal NDP's momentum -- energy Ms. Horwath says she hopes to build on going into the provincial campaign leading up to Ontario's Oct. 6 election.

"It's on the one hand very sad and a moment we need to reflect on Jack's contribution, but I think its also a passing of the torch. I think today is a way of us saying, 'Let's stay united and let's make sure we fight for and work towards the vision that Jack set out," Ms. Horwath said.

"It's not so much a translation of the results that was important for us here in Ontario -- it was the energy, it was the excitement. … just the amount of steam that it's given our campaign since the federal election.

"Jack's passing is going to affect the campaign in personal ways for me, in that I won't have him there to call up and get advice from. But people are wanting to see some change in Ontario, and I think they learned that if they vote for the kind of change they want, they can make big differences."

And Ms. Horwath is rallying her federal and municipal compatriots to build on that steam: She marched alongside Nycole Turmel, interim leader of the federal NDP, as well as several other NDP MPs and MPPs.

Jack Layton's son Mike Layton, a rookie Toronto councillor, was also by her side. He said his dad would have been overjoyed at the show of support -- but also probably a little taken aback.

"I think he would have thought it was perhaps a little bit too much, and maybe during an election campaign we should have been knocking on doors," he quipped. "But he would have been truly thankful for all the good wishes that are coming our way for the family."

And while Mike Layton said the provincial NDP can count on his support over the next month's campaign, he noted he also has his work cut out for him in Toronto city hall. In the coming days and weeks, beleaguered lefty councillors will face votes on the city's long-term plans for its waterfront as well as looming battles with unionized labour.

"I'm going to help out where I can," he said. "We've got a pretty big month there in council this week, as I'm sure some folks know. So I'll be working hard there. But I'm sure we'll find a moment to go knock on some doors as well. … I'll be there as much as I can -- but in my spare moments. At the end of the day or in the early mornings, I will definitely make time to go out."

Both Mike Layton and Ms. Turmel downplayed suggestions of strife on the federal front as the party girds for a leadership vote. Fractures have already been emerging over the role unionized labour should play in helping select the party's leaders.

"I don't believe [the vote will cause a rift]" Ms. Turmel said. "The party's really strong and we'll have the federal council, we'll set the rules and I'm sure we'll be fine at the end of the day."

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