Dies at 61.
Keep it civil please. The mans politics might be anathema to most everyone here but a family did lose a a father and husband.
Edit: Due to the inability of some to prove that they aren’t anything better than Muslims celebrating 9/11, I’ve decided to lock this thread. Go elsewhere to express your vitriol.
R.I.P. Jack.
I never liked his politics. I thought, as a councillor, he was a moral entrepreneur for fashionable causes who did more harm for Toronto than good. Yet, I feel genuinely and deeply saddened he has passed away, especially after leading his party to official opposition so enthusiastically. My wife is more consrvative than I am, and I had to comfort her over this this morning. This transcends politics.
I feel very badly for Jack’s family, friends, and party. Sixty-one is young to die and this is a very sad time for those who loved him and agreed with his politics.
It’s unfortunate that the CBC’s day-long tribute — a little over the top, IMO — to Mr. Layton seems only to feature interviews with his like-minded colleagues: Ed Broadbent, David Miller, Bob Rae, Libby Davis, etc. They seem to forget that a large swathe of the Canadian public didn’t vote for Jack and his NDP and that there are others with opinions about Jack, who also feel sad about his death.
61 is too young. My mother didn’t make to 70, either. I agree about giving his politics a pass, today–not the time, not the place–a family is in mourning.
RIP Jack, you will be missed by all Canadians, left and right
🙁
The big C plays no favourites. From the last pictures you could tell the prognosis wasn’t good.
His politics were not everyone’s cup of tea but at least he believed in one Canada.
A sad day for Canada for sure. Jack had such passion and worked very hard for what he believed in. RIP Jack Layton. You went out with a bang for sure but way too soon.
Ditto, batb.
I feel very badly for Jack’s family and sorry for his early death. I wish all of them well at this difficult time. Certainly all the tributes will help to ease their pain.
(That said, the juxtaposition of Saint Jack in the media and their treatment of World Youth Day, with the demonization of the pope and the RC Church has really made an impression on me. The RC Church, over millennia, has done far more for the poor and oppressed than Jack could even begin to imagine. That so many moral pygmies, who seem to worship at the feet of such politicians as Jack, are so deluded fills me with dread. And they riot too . . .)
For Jack, “Rest eternal grant unto him . . .”
Back in the nineties I was walking home from a party in Cabbagetown and stopped for a light. At the corner there was me, Jack and two aides, and three homeless guys passing around a bottle of whiskey. (Must have been somebody’s birthday!)
Jack and his aides were lost in lofty talk, the guys were bickering about who got the bottle next, and I stood in the middle, taking in this city nightlife moment.
Now it’s another memory featuring somebody who isn’t here any more and that transcends politics, at least for today.
I guess I’ll go with the old “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” credo.
RIP Jack. My condolences to all of his family and friends. While I never met him, he did seem to be a very likable, friendly guy that you could enjoy chatting with even if you had completely different points of view.
God rest his soul and comfort Olivia on what must be an exceptionally difficult day for her.
Rest in peace, Jack. Didn’t agree with your politics, but I admired your political achievements.
I’ll just leave this here …..
“Hey Jack: Say hello to Saddam and Hitler for me will ya!
It’s a good day when a socialist parasite leaves this earth. And better yet… NO PENSION!
Posted by: eastern paul at August 22, 2011 8:53 AM”
(from the readers tips)
civil indeed. welcome to the bloodthirsty right wing.
I feel bad for all those Quebec voters. Now they don’t even get the opposition leader they voted in all those no-name candidates for 🙁
Nice try little ol’ moi, you probably posted that.
R.I.P. Jack. I’m sure the next leader of the NDP won’t be nearly as likeable or as successful.
de mortuis nihil nisi bonum
I didn’t agree with Jack Layton much but his statement on the
SARS outbreak at its height was perfect.
My fear is that no one else in the NDP can hold this coalition together opening up the door for the return of the liberals. I much prefer politics with only two parties and a clear choice.
I’m not a person of faith, but I continue to have hope that there’s something beyond death. The concept of “nothingness” just doesn’t make sense to me. And if there is something, I trust that a person like Jack will find it a pleasant place. He may have been misguided and flawed in a very human way, but none among us isn’t. I trust that when we all meet up in the next phase of existence, we’ll all have a good laugh over the petty differences we had in life.
Jack Layton is the epitome of what wrong with Canadian politics.
Why are people worshiping this man when the ideology he so loves(Marxism) has resulted in millions of deaths?
I fail to understand why this man should be celebrated like a Canadian icon.
If everyone in this country worked as hard as Jack Layton did to promote what they felt was the right way to go, we would have a much better place in which to live.
Yes it is sad, because 61 is very young (says a soon to be 56er). The only nice thing I can say about the NDP was that they actually believed in their policies
I am hopeful that there will be more examination of the role of the media in this. From the announcement of his first cancer, the media went all in on hail fellow well met and the wonders of Layton, when they should have been asking some very hard questions. Prostate cancer in a 60 year old is VERY serious – not impossible to beat but very serious at that relative young age. The second health issue of his fractured hip should have had the media asking some very hard questions – but didn’t and instead did the plucky little campaigner taking on the big bad conservatives (so much for unbiased media). Prostate cancer followed closely by a hip fracture means that there is more serious underlying health issues that the media just ignored. The final appearance of Layton told me (my father when through this same path) that it was full-blown bone cancer and the outcome was not going to be good in spite of what the NDP and the media kept trying to convince Canadians. The media’s performance (and the NDPs) has been over the top and not in the interest of Canadians particularly going into an election. I can understand the NDPs trying to convince us all that nothing was wrong – without Layton in the campaign they would have been nowhere. But the media’s actions were just shameful – no other leader and particularly the leader of the Conservatives, would have been given such a soft approach. Shame on the media!
@Thoams Jefferson: I wouldn’t make the argument that he was a Canadian icon. Sorrow that Jack Layton the man has passed, I think, is more what’s felt – as has been said, cancer is horrible and doesn’t play favorites. I admired his pluck and willingness to fight against all odds – regardless of what you thought of his ideological bent, you had to give him at least he stood on the courage of his convictions. You don’t see that very often any more.
Leaving this plane of existence means grieving for those who survive Jack.
My sincere condolences to the surviving family of Jack Layton.
Whether I agreed with Jack politically (I did not) on this plane of human of existence here and now, matters not.
The best I can express for Jack is that he embraced the “christ” principle in his personal belief system, for that “christ” implies a never ending life for Jack Layton.
I am very sure that he and his life long trough licking will be sorrily missed by his wife and family.
The man was a huge hypocrite who used private health care facilities, but didn’t want us to. He championed immigrant and the down trodden women and at the same time put money in the hands of Pimps who exploited them.
You were a man that even death can not white wash you even if all the MSM et all want to ignore what you really were.
CTV’s Craig Oliver was quick off the mark with his obituary.
This memorable line was included:
“Jack Layton sealed the fate of the Harper Tories”.
Craig did not mention the dead Separatist Coalition. (Now, all 3 leaders have also departed.)
…-
“‘Count your blessings, Canada,’ OECD head says”
“Canadians should consider themselves privileged to have a majority government in these difficult times, says the head of the OECD.
“Count your blessings Canada, you just got a majority government,” Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, told participants at the Conference of Montreal on Monday.
Many other countries are trying to cope with the fallout from the global economic crisis with governments that change frequently or that are caretaker or minority governments, he said.”
http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/static/business/article2048726.html
He was a net negative, an apologist for the likes of Pol Pot and Stalin, and a complete disgrace to freedom loving people of the world, and as such the world is a better place without him.
Condolences to his family though.
Two things, the political legacy of Jack Layton and the future of the NDP, are questions for later.
RIP, Mr Layton and God bless his grieving family. Thanks, Jack for taking out the BP and LPC. To me that is your positive contribution and your legacy.
Look whatever his politics the man worked his butt off for something he believed in which is more than most people do. If working hard for what you believe in is “living off the public teat” then we need more people doing that. If you’ve ever worked on a campaign you know how much effort is put in and it’s even more for a party leader. The man was a patriot of the highest order and despite being completely wrong politically he deserves respect.
Even forgetting whatever else he accomplished for his party over his leadership tenure (and he accomplished a lot), the man single-handedly delivered the death knell to the Bloc Quebecois, something neither Liberal nor Conservative could accomplish. For that alone he should be remembered as a hero.
The Canadian system of parliament is based on different views and the opposition plays many roles in the government. Although I do not support the fundamental views of Mr Layton and his party, I must admit that over the years he has contributed greatly to the parliamentary system, some times good and sometimes bad. He will be severely missed by all sides of the government and all Canadians should show a modest amount of respect and sympathy. I don’t think that there is any place in Canadian civility for the comments of people like ‘little ol’ moi at August 22, 2011 12:13 PM’.
Layton was a Marxist politician, that is despicable.
Layton was a Husband, loved his wife and she loved him, an honour and a blessing to both.
Layton was a father, mentoring and pouring into his children who loved him, one of the hardest jobs in the world, but worth every minute!
Now he has passed from this life to the next and stands before his Maker, hope he made his peace.
My few posts were all deleted!
Looks like we cannot be critical of Layton.
Now is the time for everyone to forget what Jack Layton stood for and to remember the man that he was. I just can’t be that much of a hypocrite. Jack Layton was a socialist, a man who believed that the inalienable rights of man were, in fact, alienable. This was a man who believed what is yours was his and what was his was his. I do not care that Jack was a nice guy to have a beer with, or was a decent guy (happy endings in sleazy massage parlours notwithstanding). To me the only difference between Layton and Stalin, Layton and Mao, Layton and Pol Pot was opportunity. I will not celebrate the life of a man who fought to enslave me to his values.
Good thing he appointed a separatist to replace him before it was to late. A sad day for communism in Canada.
I come from the old school,where we were always taught,”never speak ill of the dead”.
So,I will always remember Jack Layton fondly for his remarks about our troops in Afghanistan,and for also running up the highest expenses of any MP.
Oh,and as an atheist,Jack has nowhere to go.
the_rat your post will likely be deleted.
In a party that was prone to demagoguery, Layton seemed to rise above it. He also made the NDP a more realistic and practical party. I’ll morn Layton both for the sake of humanity and his effect on Canada’s body politic.
OK, keep it civil, keep it civil…Then I have nothing to say about his death.
“OK, keep it civil, keep it civil…Then I have nothing to say about his death.”
John, you have summed it up well.
Civil = don’t be critical, be obsequious
Never knew Jack, although we were at opposite points on the political spectrum.
Over the last couple of years of community activism in this rural part of Ontario, I have had the good fortune of friendship with Anne Johnston, compatriot and friend of Jack from her Toronto City Council days. Life is never black and white as we may think. And at the end of time, politics cannot control the inevitable. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
Goodbye Jack and condolences to the family. I’ll miss that we will never get an apology for saying our soldiers were worse than the Taliban.
Cancer has no favorites.
Otherwise, no comments.
My condolences to the family.
Dont like to see anyone lose to cancer…but, lets not canonize him yet,,,,he was a politician, and an opportunist of the highest level…say anything for power.
I suspect I will hear the line “dedicated to public service”…which is standard for all politicians. As if they volunteer
TJ. No one cares what you have to say so it isn’t important that you share your dislike. Thumper principle.
My best memories of Jack Layton…email in response to my entreaties to ‘take down’ the corrupt LPC to trigger the winter election of 2005/06.
A fine Christmas present for Canada…Godspeed and God Bless
As to the rest…that can wait.
Cheers
Hans Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
Layton, Jack – M.P. [LaytoJ@parl.gc.ca]
Sent Thu 11/10/2005 1:50 PM
Thank you for contacting me with your comments about the timing of the next Federal election.
After careful and serious consideration, the federal NDP has proposed a solution that we believe makes the most sense. The NDP will introduce a motion on November 24th, our next opposition day. That motion will call for an election to be called in early January for an election in mid-February. Please find attached my full statement regarding our motion.
The NDP’s common-sense motion will:
– place the start of an election campaign -after- the holidays, likely early January for a mid-February vote;
– give Canadians ample opportunity to read Justice Gomery’s second report -before- the next election;
– enable the upcoming First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal Issues to proceed outside of an election campaign;
– allow for the passage of legislation presently on the order paper;
– provide an opportunity to judge the scandal and culture of entitlement sooner rather than later
After Justice Gomery’s indictment of the Liberal Party, this government doesn’t deserve to set the time of when it will be judged. It has not earned the right to court voters again with their own tax dollars – this isn’t an unaccountable majority and compromise is required on all sides.
And, we firmly believe our motion best allows our country to move forward. In fact, Paul Martin could end the turmoil today simply by calling for a February election.
Again, thank you for registering your views with me. All the best.
Sincerely,
Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada’s New Democrats
“..Prostate cancer in a 60 year old is VERY serious – not impossible to beat but very serious at that relative young age.”
Prostate cancer can be beat if you don’t ignore the signs and take early definitive action. If you have an aggressive version, there likely isn’t any time to think about it, or look for a second opinion. Current diagnostics are hit or miss, especially the biopsy. Once diagnosed, you deal with it ASAP. I had mine out at 54. I’m now 59. Time from diagnosis to surgery – 7 weeks, mostly waiting for an operating time slot. My surgeon advised me at the time that “watchful waiting wasn’t an option” and that I’d be back by the time I was 58-59. “You don’t want to go there”.
Jack probably knew he had prostate cancer for a while. He waited too long. Politics aside, I’m sorry his family.
I could not disagree with his policies more, but he was one of the most talented and accomplished politicians of our time. And I mean that in a good way.