Jack Layton, Dead At 61

martian · Aug 22, 2011

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/08/22/layton-obituary.html

CBC said:

NDP Leader Jack Layton, who led Canada's Official Opposition, has died at his Toronto home at age 61 after a long battle with cancer.
Layton died peacefully at his home in Toronto early Monday, surrounded by family and loved ones, according to a statement from his wife, Olivia Chow, and his children, Sarah and Michael Layton.
"The struggle has ended for Jack Layton, I mean very quickly," said CBC's Chief Correspondent Peter Mansbridge, who broke the news over the air. "I think we all knew when we saw those pictures in late July that this was a difficult situation. But it went very fast in the month since then."

Jack Layton takes questions at a town hall meeting during an election campaign stop in Sudbury, Ont., April 1, 2011. As NDP leader, Layton led the federal party to its best showing ever on May 2. Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press

After the news of Layton's death emerged shortly after 8 a.m. ET, friends, colleagues and Canadians reacted quickly.
Longtime NDP leader and MP Ed Broadbent told CBC News that he is "deeply saddened such a great Canadian is taken from us in the very prime of his life."
Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae said the news took his breath away and that Layton's death is not just a loss for his party, but for all Canadians.
"It's a loss for the country because he was a political guy who believed strongly in politics and who had a lot of resilience and a lot of guts," Rae told CBC News.
The leader of the Official Opposition announced on July 25 he was stepping away from the job, a role he coveted and had won only two months earlier, to concentrate on his cancer treatment so he could come back to Parliament in the fall, ready to fight for Canadian families.
Fighting with hope and optimism was a recurring theme in Layton's life. Long before his battles with cancer, Layton had developed a reputation as a fighter — a determined, goal-oriented, passionate one who would take on a cause and not let go.
In his teens in the 1960s, he led a fruitless bid to have a youth centre built in his hometown of Hudson, Que. Later, as a community organizer and activist in Toronto, and then in his political work, Layton showed a passion for such issues as the environment, AIDS, poverty, violence against women, public transportation and homelessness. Layton also fought for aboriginal issues, and was given credit by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2008 for his role in shaping the federal government's apology for the residential school system.
As longtime New Democrat and union leader Al Cerilli told CBC News in an interview several years ago, "Good or bad, he's on the front page, he's in your face," he said. "Jack is not shy, he is of that nature, of bringing the things out and putting them on the front page."
Born in Montreal on July 18, 1950, Layton had politics in his blood. His great-grand uncle William Steeves was a Father of Confederation. His great-grandfather Philip Layton came to Canada from Britain as a blind teenager and helped pressure the federal government to bring in a $25-a-month pension for the blind. His grandfather Gilbert Layton was a Quebec cabinet minister under Maurice Duplessis and his father Robert Layton was a Tory cabinet minister in Brian Mulroney's Conservative government.
That family tradition lives on. Layton's son Michael followed in his father's footsteps as a Toronto city councillor.
In addition to learning about politics first-hand from his family, Layton studied political science and economics at McGill University, graduating in 1970. He went on to earn a master's degree and his PhD in political science at York University in 1983. He wasted no time putting his knowledge from the classroom into practice and ran for Toronto city council in 1982 before he had even finished his doctorate.
Layton didn't leave the classroom after winning his seat on city council. While making waves at city hall, he taught politics at the University of Toronto, York University and Ryerson.
Layton ran unsuccessfully for mayor in Toronto in 1991, and twice failed to win a seat in the House of Commons that decade. But he kept fighting.
Layton's profile on the national scene was boosted by his election as president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in 2000, and three years later he made a run for the leadership of the New Democratic Party. He defeated several sitting NDP MPs in the heated race and in his victory speech, Layton talked about hope.
"Hope ... is what drives New Democrats," he said, adding that his party "will always be the party of hope."
He led the party for a year before he tried for a seat in the House of Commons, in the 2004 federal election, when he was finally victorious in the Toronto-Danforth riding. And in 2006, Layton's wife, Chow, joined him as the MP for the nearby Toronto riding of Trinity-Spadina
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Whatever your opinion of the NDP, this is a blow for Canadian politics. I'll admit to being taken off guard -- we all knew he was sick, but I just kind of assumed he'd pull through. Silly, I know.

Politically, my concern is that wit Layton gone, the NDP won't be able to provide a credible alternative to Harper come 2015. I suppose that's still four years away though, so we'll see how it goes. It's hard to imagine who they'd get that has Layton's charisma or strength of character.

Baraka_Guru · Aug 22, 2011

Martian said: ↑

I'll admit to being taken off guard -- we all knew he was sick, but I just kind of assumed he'd pull through. Silly, I know.
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Many of us had the same hope. Reading today's news was like receiving a solid blow to the gut. It seems that one day he was "cancer-free" and winning historical gains for his party; the next, he's gone. It all seemed to happen so fast, and now he represents one of the hugest losses of leadership this country has faced.

Politically, my concern is that wit Layton gone, the NDP won't be able to provide a credible alternative to Harper come 2015. I suppose that's still four years away though, so we'll see how it goes. It's hard to imagine who they'd get that has Layton's charisma or strength of character.
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This is on everyone's mind, I'm sure. Layton represented far more than the left-of-centre or the social democratic voices of Canada; he represented what a politician should be like. His integrity, his work ethic, his relative respect for his opponents. His legacy, I hope, will be that he will stand as a role model for federal politics.

As for the NDP, I'm not all that concerned about the future so long as the party maintains the same course and upholds the same kind of integrity Layton has infused in it. They've come too far now to let things slide into oblivion.

It's too soon to say. I think the country is still reeling. I know I am.

Jack Layton in action:

Defending Canadian healthcare to an American audience:

Below is the letter Jack Layton's family released. He wrote it to all Canadians in the event of his death.

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
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Charlatan · Aug 22, 2011

I read the news of this on Twitter last night and, like many, it was a blow to the gut. I've met Jack a couple of time and had the pleasure to vote for him both as a city councillor and a federal MP. His drive, enthusiasm and vision were always impressive to me. Even though I haven't been able to vote for him for the past few year, I have followed Canadian politics closely.

It is such a loss to all Canadians that we will not see what he could do as leader of the opposition (not to mention PM).

Given my wife's recent battle with cancer, the news that it was a new form of cancer that struck him down just after having conquered his prostate cancer has hit our house fairly hard.

I think Baraka_Guru has put it very well here:

Baraka_Guru said: ↑

Layton represented far more than the left-of-centre or the social democratic voices of Canada; he represented what a politician should be like. His integrity, his work ethic, his relative respect for his opponents. His legacy, I hope, will be that he will stand as a role model for federal politics.
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It is truly a sad day for Canada. We have lost a politician with great vision and a great champion.

streak_56 · Aug 23, 2011

He was the only credible politician in Canada, he was just a guy everyone could trust, it just came down to political ideology.... a state funeral was definitely needed for him.... I stopped work as soon as I heard... its just shocking because he was such a strong fighter, and a class act the whole way, just read the goodbye letter and no one could have anything negative to say about him...

I think the Liberal and NDP are now in the same boat, strong leadership problem... I would rather have the NDP because of Jack Layton succeed rather than the Liberals but thats my opinion.

Charlatan · Aug 23, 2011

streak_56 said: ↑

no one could have anything negative to say about him...
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Give it time. Oh! Wait... It looks like columnist Christie Blatchford has taken a few kicks at Layton. What a sour woman...

Christie Blatchford: Layton’s death turns into a thoroughly public spectacle

Matthew Sherwood for National Post
A poster of Jack Layton is held by people on a pedestrian walkway at Toronto City Hall during an impromptu memorial for Jack Layton on Monday, August 22, 2011. Layton lost his battle to cancer on Monday morning at the age of 61.

Christie Blatchford Aug 22, 2011 – 6:53 PM ET | Last Updated: Aug 23, 2011 10:07 AM ET
By the accounts of those who knew him best and loved him most, if there was a truly private side of Jack Layton, it was but a sliver of the man who happily lived virtually his entire adult life in the public eye and who was a 24/7 politician who was always on.
Yes, his death at 61 was sad and too soon; yes, he made an enormous contribution to his party and a significant one to Canada (though I would quibble with NDP MP Libby Davies’ characterization that “He gave his life for this country”); yes, he fought a brave battle against cancer, as, mind you, does just about anyone who has it; and yes, he was a likeable, agreeable, smiley man.
Yet what was truly singular about him was how consumed by politics he was and how publicly, yet comfortably, he lived.
How fitting that his death should have been turned into such a thoroughly public spectacle, where from early morn Monday, television anchors donned their most funereal faces, producers dug out the heavy organ music, reporters who would never dream of addressing any other politician by first name only were proudly calling him “Jack” and even serious journalists like Evan Solomon of the CBC repeatedly spoke of the difficulty “as we all try to cope” with the news of Mr. Layton’s death.
By mid-day, after Prime Minister Stephen Harper had offered a few warm words about Mr. Layton’s death and rued that their oft-talked-about jam session had never happened, Mr. Solomon even expressed sniping surprise that “Jack Layton wasn’t the sole focus” of the Prime Minister’s remarks.
Mr. Harper, who clearly had not spent the day watching the national broadcaster and thus was unaware that the NDP Leader’s death was the only story of note, had gone on to mention the families of the 12 people (including six-year-old Cheyenne Eckalook; now there’s someone who died far too young) who perished in the Arctic plane crash on Saturday and the tumultuous events in Libya.
The PM in fact was one of a very few voices of reason to be found on the airwaves — he remembered Mr. Layton kindly and with evident regard, but he had perspective and did not fawn.
And what to make of that astonishing letter, widely hailed as Mr. Layton’s magnificent from-the-grave cri de coeur?
It was extraordinary, though it is not Mr. Solomon’s repeated use of that word that makes it so.
Rather, it’s remarkable because it shows what a canny, relentless, thoroughly ambitious fellow Mr. Layton was. Even on Saturday, two days before he died, he managed to keep a gimlet eye on all the campaigns to come.
The letter is full of such sophistry as “We can restore our good name in the world,” as though it is a given Canada has somehow lost that, bumper-sticker slogans of the “love is better than anger” ilk and ruthlessly partisan politicking (“You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together with progressive-minded Canadians across the country,” he said in the section meant for Quebecers).
The letter is vainglorious too.
Who thinks to leave a 1,000-word missive meant for public consumption and released by his family and the party mid-day, happily just as Mr. Solomon and his fellows were in danger of running out of pap? Who seriously writes of himself, “All my life I have worked to make things better”?
The letter was first presented as Mr. Layton’s last message to Canadians, as something written by him on his deathbed; only later was it more fully described as having been “crafted” with party president Brian Topp, Mr. Layton’s chief of staff Anne McGrath and his wife and fellow NDP MP Olivia Chow.
Mr. Layton wrote it, as Mr. Topp told Mr. Solomon, “in his beautiful, energy-retrofitted house” in downtown Toronto. These people never stop.
The reaction to his death — it was still shocking how fast it came, despite his cadaverous appearance in late July when he stepped down, temporarily it was hoped — was universally described as unique and of course, the day’s adjective, as extraordinary.
Held out as evidence of Canadians’ great love for Mr. Layton were the makeshift memorials of flowers, notes that appeared at his Toronto constituency office and on Parliament Hill, and in condolences in social media.
In truth, none of that is remotely unusual, or spontaneous, but rather the norm in the modern world, and it has been thus since Princess Diana died, the phenomenon now fed if not led online. People the planet over routinely weep for those they have never met and in some instances likely never much thought about before; what once would have been deemed mawkish is now considered perfectly appropriate.
Certainly, Canadians liked Mr. Layton, but the public over-the-top nature of such events — by fans for lost celebrities they never met, by television personalities for those they interviewed once for 10 minutes, by the sad and lost for the dead — make it if not impossible then difficult to separate the mourning wheat from the mourning chaff. His loss — his specific loss and his specific accomplishments — are thus diminished.
His greatest moments — the bravest and most admirable — came during his fight with prostate cancer, the subsequent hip surgery and his most recent battle with the cancer, whose nature he never disclosed except to say it was new, which killed him.
He must have been in pain; he may have been afraid. Yet again and again, waving the cane that became in his clever hands an asset, he campaigned tirelessly.
In the end, it was Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett, a family physician whose Toronto practice once counted Mr. Layton’s family as patients, who said it best and with a physician’s sorrowful pragmatism: “As family doctors, we don’t have magic wands…this street fighter lost to the body betrayal.”
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streak_56 · Aug 23, 2011

Charlatan.... almost blasphemous.... and only because in our country, we're allowed free speech....

Baraka_Guru · Aug 23, 2011

Christie Blatchford is an idiot.

She should feel right at home at her new position at the National Post.

Tully Mars · Aug 23, 2011

Wow, didn't even know he was sick. So sad.

Charlatan · Aug 24, 2011

A tribute from the folks at This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Tully Mars · Aug 24, 2011

Seems like a real decent guy. What I know of him is mainly based on what I've seen on Rick Mercer, This Hour has 22 Minutes and Air Farce Live.

I was thinking about this last night. It's kind of odd how little most US citizens know about Canada. I'm not talking about lack of simply political knowledge but overall knowledge. I had to go look at a map to see the number and names of all the provinces and territories. I could have swore I learned in school there were 9 provinces... there's 10.

Charlatan · Aug 24, 2011

...plus three territories (used to be two but we split one up to make a new one).

Tully Mars · Aug 24, 2011

We don't count our own territories that often but last time I did I think there were six.

Charlatan · Aug 24, 2011

We count our territories because they are attached to us and are, for all intents and purposes, just thinly populated provinces. The US territories are all islands and calling them territories has always struck me as just a way to keep from calling them Colonies.

streak_56 · Aug 24, 2011

Oh man.... I loved that this Hour has 22 minutes tribute... some good ones there....

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Jack Layton, Dead At 61

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Jack Layton, Dead At 61

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