Jack Layton Loses His Battle With Cancer

[Skyline]

While I'm not sure just how much this news may have spread across the border to our southern associates, but up in Canada one of the big headlines surrounds NDP leader Jack Layton's death early this morning, as he finally fell to his long time battle with Cancer.

 

I'm not big into politics, so I can't speak much on his policies or his work with any real detail. However everything I understand about Jack says that he was a very sincere, honest, and passionate man when it come to his work within the political realm, and that he was one of the remaining "true" role models for young people in this generation. He will be sorely missed.

 

Globe and Mail Article Following Jack Layton's Passing

 

 

Jacks Final Letter to All Canadians

[Conner]

Rest in Peace, Jack.

[Canuk]

A truly great Canadian. He is the proof that one person can make a difference, and a difference for the better, in a complex modern democracy.

[Breeze]

Rest in Peace Mr Layton.

[thephoenix]

We have lost a great, energetic, passionate, and optimistic leader. He is probably single-handedly responsible for changing the NDP from a small political party with less than 20 seats in the House of Commons into the Official Opposition of Canada with 102 seats as of the time of this post. Reading some of the comments on the CBC webpages, it is clear that he was a leader who has commanded respect across all political party lines, even those who disagree with his politics.

 

In his last letter to Canadians, at the end, he wrote:

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.

He was optimistic to the very end. Faced with little time left, he found the strength to write a extraordinarily selfless letter, even urging other cancer sufferers not to give up hope even though his own was running out. (see the first post for the link).

 

He will have a very well deserved state funeral on Saturday, a rare honour normally reserved for current or former Prime Ministers and Governor Generals, or sitting members of Cabinet.

 

R.I.P. Jack Layton and condolences to his family and friends.