A Serious Loss for Canadian Progressives

Woke up to find the dreadful news this morning that federal NDP* leader Jack Layton has succumbed to the cancer that made him step down recently.

I would like to extend my sympathy to the brilliant Mr. Layton's family, friends, and colleagues, and of course specifically to Ms. Chow, his talented and hard-fighting wife and fellow MP.

He was an outstanding progressive, and a fine leader for our party.

“If I’ve tried to bring anything to federal politics, it’s the idea that hope and optimism should be at their heart. We can look after each other better than we do today,” Layton said as he announced that he would be stepping down – temporarily, he assured everyone – to focus on fighting cancer.

“As I am hopeful and optimistic about all of this, I have to say I am as optimistic as when I started out my life in politics. And so I’m hopeful and optimistic about the personal battle that lies before me in the weeks to come,” Layton said. “I am very hopeful and optimistic that our party will continue to move forward, that we will replace the Conservative government in a few short years from now and that we will work with Canadians to build the country of our hopes, of our dreams, of our optimism, our determination, our values and our love. Thank you very much."

Thanks for everything, Jack. Enjoy your well-earned rest, though it came far too early. We'll try to take up the torch.

* Canada's mainstream leftist party.