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Love, hope, optimism.
Thank you Jack Layton, may you continue to be an example to all Canadians of what can and should be!
Deepest regards to Olivia and Jack's children.
My heart hurts.
I am in shock as I was hoping and praying that Jack would recover and lead us in to another election. Many in my community have phoned to express their condolences. Many have told me that they have voted NDP for the last three elections because of Jack's leadership. He was a great man.
I did take the time to email the Toronto Star to let them know how disgusted I am about their referemce to co-op housing and the Layton's yet one more time.
Oh man, I've been busy treating patients all day and just took a break to check some emails and read the news and came across a pic of flowers in front of Jack Layton's constit office and my heart just sank. He looked bad during his press conference and I doubted his optimistic timeline of return....but, oh man...
Thoughts and prayers to Olivia and his whole family.
As we say in Hebrew: "Zecher l'vracha" (May his memory be a blessing)
It is now official. God hates the NDP.
This is really sad news. I didn't always agree with what Jack Layton did politically, but everyone who knew him said he was a good man and he took the party further than anyone really believed possible. I feel for Olivia the most.
Isn't it interesting that the most successful NDP leaders were known by their first names - Tommy, Ed and Jack.
I am deeply saddened by Jack's death, both on the personal level as one of the most admirable men i ever encountered and on the political level (a remarkable accomplishment is an era where politician is a synonym for cynicism) as the Moses who led us from the desert of almost non-party status in Parliament to the border of the Promised Land of government. Although he was snatched away from us before he could lead us across this final border, his strong principles and personality have pointed us in the right direction. We must continue on with a smile on our faces and determination to overcome all barriers, just like Jack. I don't know if Jack is part Irish but he deserves an Irish wake, with smiles, drinks, jokes and a jig. It would suit Jack perfectly.
Baruch dayan emet.
Lots of tears around here today, until we read Jack's letter. Then more tears, then a smile.
It feels good to be among babblers at a time like this - including some old faces. Only Jack could make us all pull together.
Here's a brief, sincere, and moving tribute from Françoise David, co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire. I'll translate the last part of her comments:
I cant lie, I became a bit disappointed in Jack Layton because the party shifted to the right recently, but I am still so proud of what Mr. Layton accomplished. I still remember how he won the overwhelming votes for leadership back in 2003. I think I voted online for that? I don't remember.
I don't know what else I can say, but he is what got me interested in the NDP. And I can't imagine the NDP without Jack Layton, but we will carry on and resist the neo cons, that's the best way to honor Jack and his last letter to all of us is very moving. His courage hopefully will inspire all of us to be a little bit braver and never give up no matter what people say. I will never forget him.
I first became interested in the NDP through David Lewis* and Ed Broadbent, but Layton was the reason I finally took out an NDP membership. I let it lapse a couple of years ago, but because of today I'm renewing it.
*David Lewis' best known quotation has stuck with me all these years: when he called Canadian corporations "corporate welfare bums" in the 1972 federal election.
Jack Layton's death is probably the biggest political death in Canada since the death of Pierre Trudeau a decade ago.
Layton is probably the only Canadian politician in recent years to achieve that rare political accomplishment - making an emotional, human connection with the people. And while his death is unlikely to garner quite as much emotional outpouring or long lineups Trudeau received, he may come closest out of all the current political leaders. Certainly none of the recent Liberal or Conservative leaders have been able to accomplish that.
I admired many of Jack Layton's principles and ideas for a better society, and his leadership of the NDP was what caused me to switch from the Liberals to the NDP in 2004 when Paul Martin took over and drove out many of the progressive Liberals such as Sheila Copps. I even worked on Ed Broadbent's comeback campaign that year.
In recent months I have to admit I was disappointed with how preocuppied Layton became with getting the NDP into power. He began to sacrifice some of those principles by saying anything to appeal to Quebec separatists by voting for more language laws, wanting to abolish the Clarity Act and many other examples. I think it is unfortunate that he did so because I think the drive to get into power at all costs may have damaged his health over the past year.
Still, this is a day to focus mainly on the positive aspects of Jack Layton so I will save most of those criticisms for another day. He turned out to be the closest thing Canada has had to a modern Barack Obama and was the most formidable opponent the Liberals have had. It's ironic that for all Stephen Harper's scheming and manipulating, he couldn't do what Layton accomplished.
One of Jack's biggest legacies, and possibly the biggest, was his attraction of young people to the party. As a supporter since 1971, I can remember the aging of the party. Because I am two years older than Jack, I really identified with Jack's comment there that when he first ran for the leadership and entered the room at a party meeting, the average age dropped. Now when I enter the room the average age rises, thanks to Jack. Seeing so many strong, young MPs and members at the convention gives me faith that the NDP will continue to be a strong force in Canadian politics for generations to come.
"In recent months I have to admit I was disappointed with how preocuppied Layton became with getting the NDP into power. He began to sacrifice some of those principles by saying anything to appeal to Quebec separatists by voting for more language laws, wanting to abolish the Clarity Act and many other examples. I think it is unfortunate that he did so because I think the drive to get into power at all costs may have damaged his health over the past year."
Principles indeed. I'm sure Jack would have laughed at the Torstar Liberal's pitiful attempts to use every last opportunity to campaign against him.
In a way I think Jack's death would be bigger than Pierre's. Pierre was long retired but Jack was in office at the time.
The tributes have really been inspiring. From politicians to average Torontonians. It really seems that, all partisan differences aside, Jack was truly well-LIKED by everyone who knew him which is a pretty rare thing for most politicians. Even Rob Ford gave a very gracious and touching tribute. Hopefully, this spirit of goodness, decency nd friendship that Jack inspired will live on as a tribute to his legacy.
Not this year. The Toronto Star endorsed Jack Layton, not Michael Ignatieff.
I don't think that will be the case, but that's not for me to decide.
Trudeau may not have been in office at the time, but he was never far from the Canadian mind. He was Prime Minister for 15 years, and ranks as Canadians' favourite PM.
I'm still having a hard time accepting this. Only sixty one years old, a non-smoker, cyclist and positive thinker. Proof again that the only justice in the world is what we make, I guess.
I don't know what to say. It's depressing news. Jack's battle is over. Goodbye, Jack. We will miss you dearly.
Good grief Debater, you couldn't wait a day or two to slag Jack.
RIP Jack, God always takes the best ones first.
And yet they're still looking for any little story to cast a shadow over him, even long disproven rumours. Even now. Could you please drop the politics for awhile and think of the man instead, least for awhile?
I've fought a similar battle and know others who weren't so lucky as me, so believe me when I say that life itself is its own free gift, however short it might be, however tough it gets. And it is going to be tough for other New Democrats to pick up from here. but he did leave a good example to follow.
It's been announced that jack Layton will receive a full state funeral this coming Saturday at Roy Thomson Hall in downtown Toronto. It's certainly a deserved honour for a long career of public service but I can just imagine the always humble Jack shrugging and saying "All this fuss for ME?"
i was at a conference today before the news broke when we broke for lunch one by one people checked their blackberries and we all saw the news. what a great loss for Olivia and the family but also for Canada. I think today a little bit of me died as well
And? Trudeau's leadership record is not uncontested in Canada. He didn't win Canada's greatest Canadian contest - Tommy did.
As a comparison, in the decade of the 2000s Russiya state TV partook in a national popularity contest of Russian leaders. State TV actually made a concerted effort to discourage Russians from voting for Joe Stalin who was ahead in polls at the time. In the end Father Stalin came third.
Jack will be revered by Canadians for some time to come regardless of state coercion or historical record according to what a phony majority electoral machine spits at us every four years.
To all who read this...
Cry not because he has gone, smile because he was here!
Well put.
Also...Don't Mourn...Organize!
And VOTE
radiorahim and I were just over the border in Niagara Falls NY attending a concert last night and came home today. I didn't bring my blackberry because I didn't want to be surprised by astronomical roaming charges, and we didn't listen to Canadian radio until we almost got home tonight at 5. So we just heard about this on the radio a couple of blocks from our place, and luckily we were on a side street and could stop, because it gave both of us quite the start, just hearing it on the news like that out of nowhere.
We both wanted to believe he'd be okay and back in the saddle in September when he gave that press conference, but his voice told a different story, and I thought retirement might be in the cards. But I didn't realize he was so close to the end of his life - I was certainly hoping that even if he couldn't recover soon enough to return to politics, that he would at least get better and have lots of time to spend with his family.
I didn't know him, really, although I've met him a couple of times. So I'm surprised how hard it hit me when I heard the news. And my son was starstruck when he met him a couple of years ago, kept his business card like it was a prized baseball card! My condolences to those of you who actually knew him well. He was a good MP, and it was neat to be able to vote for him in May now that I live in his riding. But more importantly, he was a good person.
http://www.metafilter.com/106738/Jack-Layton-has-passed-away#3882741