A News Brief from Niagara At Large publisher Doug Draper
Here is some very sad news that many of us on the Canadian side of the border – regardless of our political stripes – braced ourselves for, yet hoped would never happen.
A very upbeat Jack Layton with Welland NDP MP Malcolm Allen in Niagara, just this spring during the federal election. Photo courtesy of Malcolm Allen's constituency office.
Jack Layton, leader of the federal New Democratic Party, lost his battle with cancer this Monday, August 22. He slipped away at his home in Toronto shortly before 5 a.m., surrounding by members of his family. He was only 61.
Layton, who only this July announced to the country that he was taking a little time off to fight a new cancer after fighting down another one over the past few years, has been taken away after leading the federal NDP to its highest heights in half a century – from a party with 13 seats only a decade ago to 103 seats, more than enough to win it official opposition status for the first time in its history.
Now it is left up to his friends and colleagues in his party, including Welland Riding MP Malcolm Allen to build on his legacy. “I know he would want us to make sure that the things he would have said, we will say for him,” Allen told Niagara At Large hours after hearing the news of Layton’s death.
Allen recalled that when Layton spoke to the NDP caucus, via a two-way video screen only a few days after he made his announcement early this July that he was fighting a new cancer, “his voice was already stronger and he’d said he wished he’d left the announcement until he sounded stronger. He was that kind of a hopeful person, said Allen. Never complaining about his bad stroke of luck with the first cancer or getting personally down.
“Jack was always someone who took time to make sure you were okay,” said Allen. “He put others before himself. … He put Canadians first, he put his caucus first and he put his family first.”
Allen added that after Layton’s granddaughter Beatrice was born a few years ago, Layton passionately embraced the little girl and would then on say that any victories he and has party won “were for Beatrice and for all of the grandchildren out there, to build a better Canada where folks have opportunity.”
In another statement this morning, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath said the following:
“Today New Democrats lost a leader, a mentor and a friend. Jack Layton taught Canadians a new kind of politics. He inspired a generation of voters with his principles of compassion, fairness and equality. He set an example. He brought us together. He spoke to all Canadians, in the cities, in the north, in the country and on the coasts. My heart goes out to Olivia, Mike, Sarah and all of Jack’s family and friends. We’ll miss you Jack.”
Niagara At Large has already received email about Jack Layton from readers and we include the following one here from the Reverend Gary |Screaton Page of Fort Erie, who says he has never been a card-carrying member of any political party. His thoughts may very well echo those of many others.
“Shock and disbelief,” wrote the reverend. “Despite his illness, Jack Layton was supposed to get better! Sadly cancer won the battle. Still, Jack Layton may have won the war. His passion, idealism, congruency, and courage will live on, perhaps with grudging respect, in the minds of even his political enemies.”
“Canadians have yet to fully understand the contribution Mr. Layton has made to our nation’s politics. One didn’t have to believe in his views to respect and admire his love for the nation he served. After winning an astounding victory in the polls last election, Jack Layton gave underserved Canadians new hope.”
“In time we may understand what big shoulders he had and how much of a burden he carried for the poor, the weak, the least protected of our society.”
“Rest in peace Mr. Layton, your country will miss you!”
(We encourage our Niagara At Large readers to share your views on this news in the comment boxes below.)
Niagara At Large 
Although I didn’t share the fullness of his vision, I was always impressed with his earnest candor and ability to grasp and respond to situations. He presented his position with dignity. I had met the man and his magic was that he was never publically dismissive of competing views, truly a prototypical politician. He was a man of class and decency. His passion and integrity will be missed.
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We have all lost a happy and outgoing friend in Jack Layton. His qualities were endearing and he was a gentleman in a rough and tumble world of Canadian politics. Our hearts go out to Olivia Chow and all Jacks family. God bless you all and help you through your loss. Jack was a treasure at a time of social upheaval. His jovial outlook was an inspiration to us all.
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I am not ashamed to admit I cried when I heard of his death this morning. The last time I shed a tear for a politician was JFK and I was 13 years old.
Politicians rank in my view, somewhere on a scale between spiders and snakes. Jack was one who I felt did have some integrity and he gave me some hope that there were still people who entered the profession for the right reason, and for the good of the common people.
He exuded warmth and genuine empathy and I seldom saw him wothout a smile. The outpouring of genuine sadness on TV indicates how he was loved even by those who did not share his views. I hope part of his legacy will be to inspire others to follow in his footsteps. He has left an immense void but has been an example of what good still exists in politics and I hope others will step up and carry on his work.
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Although my personal political beliefs have drifted further to the right from my younger days of supporting the NDP, I have come to have a great respect for Jack Layton. Over the past few years, since he assumed leadership of the federal New Democrats, I have watched him develop into a strong leader – his passion often reminded me of Tommy Douglas – one of the greatest of the great Canadians.
I think Jack Layton will long be remembered with fondness by Canadians of all political stripes.
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What a tragedy. What a truly wonderful man. I met him once. I was fighting for a better health care system. He shook my hand and said Tommy Douglas was his idol. I knew I was in the midst of a great man.
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Our daughter called today to say she cried on hearing the news. She has been living in Olivia Chow’s constituency and loves Chow and Layton, and worked on Chow’sr campaigns and supported the NDP strongly. She said it is sort of like hearing (for us ‘oldsters’) of JFK’s assassination. It is deeply felt loss for a younger generation, the generation that Jack Layton worked so hard to make better for them. And for all our nation.
Gail B
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Jack Layton provides a fine role model. There are so many practical ways that we can do good by encouraging sensible things like more affordable housing, alternatives to cars and green space. Apart from good ideas what is so inspiring is the tenacity he employed to fight for them. I can tell a story that is little well known. To have more parks and land for affordable housing, he fought a battery of corporate lawyers at an OMB hearing on the Toronto railway lands for over a month. If anyone has any experience with the OMB, you will know how courageous this is.
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