Building the Orange Wave: The Inside Story Behind the Historic Rise of Jack Layton and the NDP

by Brad Lavigne

Brad Lavigne was not just the campaign manager of the New Democratic Party’s 2011 breakthrough campaign that took Jack Layton from last place to Official Opposition. He was also a key architect of Layton’s overnight success that was ten years in the making. In Building the Orange Wave, Lavigne recounts the dramatic story of how Layton and his inner circle developed and executed a plan that turned a struggling political party into a major contender for government, defying the odds and the critics every step of the way. The ultimate insider’s account of one of the greatest political accomplishments in modern Canadian history, Building the Orange Wave takes readers behind the scenes, letting them eavesdrop on strategy sessions, crisis-management meetings, private chats with political opponents, and internal battles, revealing new details of some of the most important political events of the last decade.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Canada, History, Biography Memoir

273 pages, Hardcover

First published November 2, 2013

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

On my TBR list for awhile. My parents always voted NDP
I haven't yet- always with the strategic voting but this book makes me rethink it.

What a legacy Layton left and he should have had a longer time on this Earth. What he did in his short time was admirable. I like the author didn't gloss over his mistakes which is common after someone dies. A well balanced book.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was ultimately only the tiniest of cogs in the building of the "Orange Wave," but I was along for the ride almost from the beginning. This meant that this book, in addition to being very well written and constructed, ended up being a great walk down memory lane.

My four-star rating, though, is less about the nostalgia factor and more about the fact that I feel like I can recommend it for politically interested people of all persuasions. This book is a savvy illustration of a long-term political strategy that ended up paying off in the long run, and I think anyone who's interested in Canadian politics can learn something from that. And even besides that, this is also simply a remarkable Canadian story that everyone in the country should be aware of. Most politically aware Canadians know the basics of the endgame, but until this book came out, only the insiders were aware of just how far back the work Jack's team did stretched.

Kudos to Brad Lavigne for this effort! I hope to thank him for it in person someday soon.

[Harold · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and lively look at the rise of the NDP. It was reasonably frank, with plenty of admissions of things that went wrong, especially in earlier campaigns. The most interesting parts to me were the parts on changing party decision-making structures around campaigns and the change to the relationship between electoral district associations, the provincial parties, and the national parties. I would have liked to see more on that and less about the day to day of the campaigns. Although the latter is more juicy, the organizational changes are far more consequential for the long-term viability of the NDP as a real challenger for government.

[Franhaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Great background information on the strategy and planning required to run a successful political campaign. It held my interest and even though I knew the final result I wanted to get to the end to see the approach and tactics used to achieve that end.

[Donald Leitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Building the Orange Wave offered an inside view of Jack Layton's leadership of the NDP, including the strategies pursued to expand its base of supporters and make the party more relevant to voters. Books of this nature tend to split into two camps: the negative "tell-all" or the positive "spin". Although, Building the Orange Wave would be certainly lean to latter group, the "spin" was limited and the book did address mistakes that were made leading up to the party's success in the 2011 federal election which resulted in the NDP breaking through to official opposition status.

I would recommend this book to those with an interest in Canadian politics, particularly those with an interest in understanding the first decade of the 21st century. The events of this decade were formative in the development of all of Canada's major political parties.

[Oreen Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the NDP became the official opposition it was an overnight success that was ten years in the making.

The book is an ultimate insider account. Lavigne is not a journalist but a political strategist who was one of the architects of the orange wave. Yes, Jack Layton had charisma, but it should be noted that he had run in two federal elections prior to becoming leader and had lost both times. As leader he stuck to the social democratic principles. The goal of the team was to bring the NDP into the modern age, make it professional and through well managed campaigns and strategic planning they could hope in the long term to bring their party to the majority.

Was it Jacki’s appeal, a well managed campaign, or strategic planning that resulted in the success of the Orange Wave When Lavigne wrote the book he believed the wave would continue. It didn’t happen. Tom Mulclaire did something very strange, strategic voting, moved the party to the right. Say what?

[Andrew Figueiredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most illuminating reads on how the NDP made such large gains in 2011 and simultaneously a great book about Jack Layton and his leadership. Layton's ascendance brought together the NDP in a way that professionalized it, packaged it to Quebec, and made it a force in government even as an opposition party. Lavigne's insider status really lets him lay out how the party faced various challenges over the years and grew from them. That said, the end of the book gets a little nakedly partisan (not shocking), but to me, his sudden contemporary attacks on the other parties diminish the book's quality ever so slightly. Overall, a good read!

[Jason Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intimate, up close and personal account of building the New Democratic Party of Canada into a modern political force under the leadership of Jack Layton.

This book serves as a blueprint for anyone that thinks all hope is lost and politics cannot be changed. An inspirational, and at times, sad, story about tragedy and triumph, Lavigne lays it all out about how a Toronto City Councillor and his team took a caucus of 14 MPs and made it into a caucus of 103 MPs in 9 years.

[Qualia Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very insightful look into Canadian Politics as well as a look into the historic rise of the NDP.
I would think that this would make an amazing addition to required reading in social studies classrooms across Canada.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think I need to do more research before I buy any more books on Canadian politics. This was very informative and educational but faintly hagiographic, as I should have expected from Layton’s former campaign manager.

[Ot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and sometimes inspiring look at the NDP’s slow ascent during the 2000s. At least they learned from their mistakes, unlike today’s NDP.

[Liam]

one of the biggest what-ifs in Canadian history

[Astrid Krueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried

[Peter Thurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book as an informative, interesting roller coaster ride of emotions. Having been on the 2011 NDP team of candidates, there were many names that I recognized in the book, some of whom I have worked with while building on the Orange wave here in Kitchener Centre.

Lavigne does an excellent job of weaving the story of Jack's political career together from the perspective of the team that was built around him. The reader got a good sense for how his partnership with Olivia Chow was the foundation for everything he did in politics. I was especially struck by the fact that Jack and Olivia struggled with different possible political tracks, working through it to find a solution together. That's something I admire.

I enjoyed the realism of a political campaign - Lavigne pulls no punches when it comes to some of the more challenging moments, while telling plenty of humourous stories to bring out the camaraderie that exists while working together to achieve a political goal.

I nodded along as I got a peek into many of the stories that I'd heard of through the grapevine or seen a final product. I remember witnessing the scrum with Tom Mulcair at the Quebec Convention in 2006 - now I understand why that scrum was so important. I knew that philosopher Charles Taylor was an influence in Jack's life, but I didn't realize how much of an influence.

By far my favourite sentence, however, comes after a description of the first stop of the Leader's Tour in Edmonton: "The NDP Tour then travelled to Surrey, Regina, Brantford and Kitchener, visiting Conservative ridings we were targeting." (p.208)

I'd heard that Kitchener was among the targeted ridings in 2011. The fact that it is confirmed, written in Lavignes book fills me with great pride, and motivates me to keep working harder - as Jack himself was fond of saying "Let's not stop until the job is done!"

[rabble.ca]

http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2013/1...

Review by Joel Harden

Has the Orange Wave collapsed? Are we now in thrall of Trudeaumania 2.0? Can the Harper Conservatives be defeated in 2015? After the NDP's recent implosion in Nova Scotia, disappointment in British Columbia, and stalled hopes in federal byelections, these are the questions many progressives are posing.

To those seeking perspective, Brad Lavigne offers a page-turning account of the federal NDP's rise to prominence in Building the Orange Wave: The Inside Story Behind the Historic Rise of Jack Layton and the NDP and documents the party's transformations en route to becoming Canada's Official Opposition.

The book affirms those who think the federal NDP should follow its provincial cousins and urgently seek the mantle of government. Related strategies typically involve "professionalizing" the party apparatus, appearing "reasonable," "practical," or "credible" in the mainstream media and appealing to an amorphous "middle class."

Lavigne's credentials are impressive. He was a top advisor to Jack Layton during his leadership bid in 2003, and crucial strategist in the federal NDP's historic breakthrough in 2011.

Read more here: http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2013/1...

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brad Lavigne is an NDP insider who worked with Jack Layton from his first bid at leadership of the NDP. Lavigne chronicles this recent political history of the NDP in Building the Orange Wave. As someone who really started to pay attention to politics in the past five years, after leaving university and getting into the real world, I appreciate the analysis and recap of the past ten years. Lavigne also shares a retrospective look at how the NDP gained political ascendancy in Canada, charting the successes and failures of successive elections. He shows how the strong leadership under Jack Layton changed the party's outlook and confidence and how this translated in the 2011 election that saw the NDP become the Official Opposition. There are some emotionally difficult parts at the end, when Lavigne chronicles the highs of the 2011 election followed so closely by Jack Layton's death. I don't know if I could have read this even one year ago; it would have been too hard for me to read about Layton's death at peak of his achievement. Building the Orange Wave will appeal to NDPers and sympathizers who want to learn more about the party's recent success.

[Annalisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Brad Lavigne. I really enjoyed reading this behind the scenes account of the federal NDP and the last several elections under Jack Layton. I remember when Lavigne first started appearing as the NDP representative on political panels and I thought how well it augured for the NDP that they were getting such smart, articulate young people like Mr. Lavigne to speak for the party. Well, he's not so young anymore, and has accumulated a great deal of experience in the political trenches and what interesting times he writes of. Thank you for putting down on paper, what I realized I was already beginning to forget: the players, the battles, the losses and wins, and ultimately the progress the NDP has made thanks to smart, passionate, and seemingly tireless people like you. Brad Lavigne, Brian Topp, Anne McGrath...you are rock starts in my world. May you live long and keep up the good fight. Thanks again for a very engaging book. And hey, I didn't know you were a BC boy!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first picked up this book, I was hoping to learn more about the orange wave that swept across Canada in the 2011 election. I was also eager to read more about Jack Layton and the part he played in the success of the NDP. This book held all of this and more. It was enlightening to learn about how Mr. Layton became the leader of the NDP, the work he did through life, how he developed into a genuine person in Canadian politics and then led the party to a historic win into Official Opposition. It was also saddening to read about Jack's last days and his personal battle with cancer. This was a man who deeply cared about the less fortunate in Canada and always worked hard to make life better for them. Finally, it was love, hope and optimism that guided Jack's life which allowed him to earn the support and hearts of so many Canadians. It was this that built the orange wave.

[Christopher Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not a fan of Jack's politics, I had a huge amount of respect for him as a politician. Lavigne's book draws on the rise of the NDP under Jack and tells the story astoundingly well. I will freely admit I was brought to tears during the chapters that dealt with Jack's illness and death. A must read for any Canadian political junkie.

[Duane Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written book which provides great insight into building a political party. One would think that this book is about the late Jack Layton but it is not. This book shows that it takes a team to build a political party. No matter what your political stripe, this is a must read for any politico.

[Burt Schoeppe · Rating 2 out of 5]

A friendly biography of Layton.

Would have been much more valuable of a read if Lavigne could have explained any mistakes Layton and his team made in his losses in his run for mayor in 1991 and for Parliament in 1993 and 1997.

While Layton was a hero to the supporters like Lavigne it would have proved helpful to learn what lessons Layton took from these earlier setbacks.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

really interesting and informative. read it prior to the 2015 election and I was glad for the background. Could have used a summary chart though of key people (their titles/roles) and dates -- a lot happened in that decade or so! I hope he (or someone) picks up the thread and tells the next chapter(s) of the story.

[Laura Janssens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Building the Orange Wave provides and intriguing and inspiring inside look at the NDP's political strategy, combined with a very moving emotional story of Jack's life, career, and death. Filled me with love, hope, & optimism ;)

[Mark Konrad · Rating 1 out of 5]

After expending great energy i gave up on page 20. I'm done with trying to read this Book! I'd sooner read Mein Kampf. It was too much of an effort trying to undersand what the author was trying to say. i.e. difference between "Tabling" a bill in Canada vs "Tabling" a bill in the USA.

[Rob Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. As someone who didn't know that much about Canadian politics this gave me really good insight into that overall as well as into Jack and the NDP's story. It is an interesting and detailed account of the NDP's recent history and some of the ways of them achieving the advances they did.

[Stanley Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gem!