[Peter Zack]

Jack Layton 1950-2011

Well a fairly crappy day for most Canadians even if you didn't support Jack Layton and the NDP. For those who don't know, it's a left leaning party (makes the Democrats look like Republicans) here that brought in free health care and various other social programs to Canada.

Jack died today of cancer just a few months after getting his party to Federal opposition status for the first time in our countries history. One of the most positive political leaders in a generation and he'll be missed. In fact his biggest legacy might just be that by wiping out the Bloc Québécois, who since 1990 have tried to separate from Canada, he may have saved this country from splitting up had the Bloc ever regained some sort of power base.

A few days before his death, he wrote a message to all. It's copied below and the last lines say everything about the type of man he was. Gone too soon and will be missed.

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don't be discouraged that my own journey hasn't gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we've done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let's continue to move forward. Let's demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada's Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one - a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world's environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don't let them tell you it can't be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.

And we'll change the world.

All my very best,
Jack Layton

Cartoon the property of Patrick Corrigan and the Toronto Star

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Last edited by Peter Zack; 08-23-2011 at 07:28 AM. Reason: Added cartoon info

[KungPOW]

Rest in peace Jack.

We need more Canadians like you.

[sweetpapa]

Jack Layton, you were a shiny star that shone too brightly and burned out too soon.

You inspired Canadians with your fighting spirit.

You will be missed.

[redrockcoulee]

I have never voted NDP but they have had many fine and honourable representatives and leaders, Jack being one of them. He will be sorely missed and certainly not by just those who support his policies. When he first became leader I did not think he was any better than those who preceded him but he not only proved me totally wrong but I think he also really grew with the position. May all those who represent us provincially and federally learn the lesson from him on how to be both successful and honourable at the same time. His love and concern for our country is reflected by the response from his death.

[audiobomber]

A outstanding leader, for sure. The amount of coverage his death is receiving in Canada is very touching and impressive.

When I was a young man, I voted NDP. It's a party that constantly fights for social responsibility and egality. Unfortunately when they were elected to run Ontario, the economy went into the dumper quickly and it took a long time to recover after they were voted out. I would hate to see a national NDP government, but I would hate even more to see the NDP party die. They are Canada's social conscience, they remind us that a good life is not simply about personal wealth. Their leftist positions on pensions, minimum wages, ecology, health care, etc, have been shamelessly adopted and enacted by the Liberals and Conservatives over and over again, because Canadians supported these policies.

Jack Layton was constantly voted the most popular party leader by Canadians. Becoming Leader of the Opposition is a huge victory for Mr Layton and the NDP party. It's a damned shame he won't be around to fill the role, he is the perfect foil for Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.

[shooz]

Condolences to my North American brothers.
You have lost that which is truly rare, an honest man willing to run for public office.
The world need more of those.

[redrockcoulee]

A outstanding leader, for sure. The amount of coverage his death is receiving in Canada is very touching and impressive.

When I was a young man, I voted NDP. It's a party that constantly fights for social responsibility and fairness. Unfortunately when they were elected to run Ontario, the economy went into the dumper quickly and took a long time to recover after they were voted out. I would hate to see a national NDP government, but I would hate even more to see the NDP party die. They are Canada's social conscience, they remind us that a good life is not simply about personal wealth. Their leftist positions on pensions, minimum wages, ecology, health care, etc, have been shamelessly adopted and enacted by the Liberals and Conservatives over and over again, because Canadians supported these policies.

Jack Layton was constantly voted the most popular party leader by Canadians. Becoming Leader of the Opposition is a huge victory for Mr Layton and the NDP party. It's a damned shame he won't be around to fill the role, he is the perfect foil for Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.

Bob Rae and the party were not prepared to run the province, he even admits that openly. NDP governments have been very sucessful in the other three western provinces. They lost the only opportunity here in Alberta when Grant Notley was killed in a plane crash.

Your point about the left's contribution is right on. NDP is just ahead of their time on many issues. It is a true left wing party although there is more overlap with the left half of the Liberal and used to be with the Red Tories. People like Jack were a create to their party, their country and to politics in general. There are probably many good honest politicans, they just do not seem to get as far as he managed. The loss is not only to his friends and families but to the country as your last sentence stated.

[Sol Invictus]

They are Canada's social conscience...

Amen. I have never voted NDP but I am tremendously glad they are around to hold the other parties responsible. Jack was a tremendous leader for his party and the country will miss him.

[Ailuropoda]

I only saw Jack Layton a few times, which is probably more than I've seen any other politician in person. He was always so approachable and friendly. I feel like I've lost someone close, but it warms my heart to picture him riding his bicycle off into the sunset. I am going to miss him.

[deadwolfbones]

Dude seemed like a badass. Had no idea he was fighting cancer.

RIP.