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John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC, MP (July 18, 1950 – August 22, 2011)

RIP Jack, I wish more of our leaders had your passion and charisma.
 
I was deeply saddened to learn this morning of the death of Jack Layton.

When I last spoke with Jack following his announcement in July, I wished him well and he told me he'd be seeing me in the House of Commons in the Fall.

This, sadly, will no longer come to pass.

On behalf of all Canadians, I salute Jack’s contribution to public life, a contribution that will be sorely missed.

I know one thing: Jack gave his fight against cancer everything he had. Indeed, Jack never backed down from any fight.

To his wife Olivia, his family, and to his colleagues and friends, Laureen and I offer our heartfelt condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time.
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PM statement, 22 Aug 11
 
Oh Dear God!

Rest in Peace, Jack and may Olivia and the rest of your family and friends find comfort.
 
Death of the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition

August 22, 2011

Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, following the death of the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, the Honourable Jack Layton

OTTAWA— My wife, Sharon, and I join all Canadians in deeply mourning the loss of Jack Layton today.

As leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, Mr. Layton was held in great esteem by Canadians for his passionate dedication to the public good. Throughout his career as a community leader and politician, he constantly strived to bring people together in the common cause of building a better Canada, and he did so with  great energy and commitment. His fundamental decency and his love of our country serve as examples to us all, and he will be greatly missed.

We wish to extend our sincerest condolences to Mr. Layton's wife, Ms. Olivia Chow, and their family, friends and colleagues in this most difficult time. Our thoughts are with you. 

David Johnston

-30-

Media information:
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
marie-eve.letourneau@gg.ca
 
"City of Toronto pays tribute to former City Councillor Jack Layton":
http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/7017df2f20edbe2885256619004e428e/ff60b2efe53ce263852578f40053e950?OpenDocument
"Flags at City Hall, Metro Hall and Toronto civic centres will be lowered to half mast, and will remain lowered until the end of the day of his funeral."
 
I never agreed with Jack Layton WRT us waging war on people who need to have war waged on them. I did agree with him on some points of social policy, although not many.

What I did respect Mr. Layton for was his leadership of a party that led to them becoming the Loyal Opposition.

IF some of the leadership of the CF was one tenth as passionate as that of Mr. Layton, we'd be in much better condition.

:salute: :cdn: RIP Mr. Layton. I will miss you, and Canada is much poorer for your loss.
 
RIP Jack Layton. You were a worthy leader, who served your country with dignity and honour. Canada poorer without you :salute: :cdn:
 
Agreed with many of the above. Although I personally disagreed with him on many points, his leadership, passion and desire to do the best for Canadawill be missed.

RIP Jack Layton and prayers for his family, friends and everyone else who is going through a very difficult time
 
August 20, 2011

Toronto, Ontario

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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via CBC.ca, 22 Aug 11
 
Jack, as he was referred to by many Canadians, was a robust energetic man prior to this illness taking over his life.
To see a man with the ability to make Canada a better place struck down at the age of 61 speaks to the loss this disease inflicts on society.

RIP Jack and condolences to his family and many friends.
 
Jack Layton was probably one of the strongest NDP leaders ever, he took the party to new places it has not seen before. RIP, Jack Layton, you were one tough Party Leader.

The country is a better place becuase of your efforts.
 
RIP Mr. Layton, I think a good person at heart, a worthy adversary to other politicians and truly wanting what was best for his country. 

:salute:
 
The Yin to Harper's Yang. God Speed Jack. You will be hard to replace.
 
RIP and condolances. While I might not have agreed with his ideas, he certainly communicated them in an effective manner. He will be missed
 
Sad day for his family and friends. I didn't share is political views, however the doubt very much that the NDP party will be the same without him, as he was an excellent leader and politician.
 
If you follow facebook, I have created a light-hearted event to remember Mr. Layton by having an Orange Crush tomorrow.  Link.
 
I did not aways agree with his statments or actions and frequently thought he was mis-guided.  But, I do believe his heart was always in the right place nevertheless and his desires honest.  My condolences to his family, friends and collegues on the Hill.  His greatest accomplishment for me was to curb stomp Duceppe and his bunch.  I'll miss seeing you Jack on TV.  Peace.
 
cupper said:
Best wishes for a positive outcome.

And if one isn't possible, a short fight with as much comfort as possible.
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Damn.

Hope it was as painless and comfortable as possible.

:salute:
 
Technoviking said:
If you follow facebook, I have created a light-hearted event to remember Mr. Layton by having an Orange Crush tomorrow.  Link.
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Count me in!
 
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