Posted on 08/22/2011 9:39:09 AM PDT by fanfan
OTTAWA - Jack Layton, the leader of the official Opposition, died early Monday morning, his family said.
Layton, 61, had been battling cancer for more than a year and, a month ago, announced he was temporarily stepping aside from his job to fight the disease.
Layton's immediate family -- his wife, MP Olivia Chow, and his children, Sarah and Michael -- issued a statement at about 8:30 a.m. Monday morning.
"We deeply regret to inform you that The Honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, passed away at 4:45 am today, Monday, Aug. 22. He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and loved ones. Details of Mr. Layton's funeral arrangements will be forthcoming."
Earlier this year, Layton led the New Democratic Party to its best electoral showing in the party's history.
Quebec MP Nycole Turmel had temporarily assumed leadership duties when Layton stepped aside last month.
Layton was born July 18, 1950 in Montreal and was raised in Hudson, Que. His father, Robert Layton, was a Progressive Conservative cabinet member and his grandfather, Gilbert Layton, was a Quebec cabinet minister.
Layton studied political science at McGill University before moving to Toronto in 1970 to continue his studies. He obtained his PhD in political science from York University and then became a professor at Ryerson University.
His political career began when he became a city councillor in Toronto in
1982 and served as acting deputy mayor and as a member of the Toronto Port Authority. He opposed the building of the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre) and also opposed Toronto's bid for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
He ran for mayor in 1991, but lost to June Rowlands. He became head of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities before moving into federal politics.
Layton took over for Alexa McDonough to become leader of the New Democrats in 2003, and was elected MP for the Toronto-Danforth riding in June 2004.
Since then, Layton has been the face of the party, and led them to new heights of success in the most recent election when the NDP ascended to the ranks of official opposition for the first time.
Layton married his high school sweetheart, Sally Halford, in 1969 when he was 19. They had two children together but the marriage ended in 1983.
He married Olivia Chow in 1988. Shortly after the wedding, Chow joined Layton on Toronto council. She also became an NDP MP in 2006. He became a grandfather in the summer of 2009.
Layton has had a public struggle with cancer since announcing on Feb. 5, 2010, that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
His father had also had prostate cancer 17 years earlier and recovered from it. His wife, Chow, also battled thyroid cancer.
Layton vowed to defeat it.
"Like my dad, I am a fighter and I am going to beat this," Layton told reporters.
But last month, Layton called a press conference in Toronto to announce he was battling a new cancer and would be stepping down temporarily from the NDP leadership to focus on his health.
Canada ping.
RIP. Hell of a way to go.
If Tea Party members are supposed to go to hell, I shutter to think what happens to a socialist.
I disagreed with his politics, but he was a good man who contributed much to his country. I was sorry to hear about his passing. He certainly looked so frail when he announced he was stepping aside—I wonder if the stress of that last election campaign hastened his death.
That was an awful, hateful post. I hope the mods delete it.
Whatever his politics were, the man was a human being with family and friends who loved and cared about him.
“...That was an awful, hateful post. I hope the mods delete it...”
You’re right. It was. Socialists are awful, hateful people.
“...Whatever his politics were, the man was a human being with family and friends who loved and cared about him...”
Socialists have destroyed many human beings, with families and friends, who loved them and cared about them.
Understand your sentiment; but it’s wasted on me when it comes to socialists. Sorry you’re offended, but it my point still stands.
One less socialist is never a bad thing.
I agree. This man was no doubt the polar opposite of what most of us believe politically. But he was still a human being who suffered a horrible, painful death. If we can’t show enough human decency in a situation like this then exactly what “values” do we claim to be fighting for?
I prefer this: “One less socialist POS. Prayers up for your family, and hope God accepts you.”
No comment.
Yer a better man than me, Laz.
Absolutely zero sympathy for any neo-marxist who worked night and day to try destroy people`s lives and unalienable rights.
Jack, being the lying politician he was, LIED right up to the end.
He lied when he said he was being “treated” (most likely just heroin to kill the pain), and LIED when he said he be back in Parliament next month.
IMAGINE ! You`re dying yet continue to bullshit the people and simply cannot tell the truth .
What next, a full Christian funeral mass in a church for him !!!???
Hitler was a socialist too. So was Stalin. And Mao. And Lenin. And Beria. And Dzershinsky. And Trotsky.
Human decency? The guy pushed the same ideology as they did. An ideology responsible for hundreds of thousands of murdered human beings and their families.
I’ll give compassion and human decency where it’s due - to the victims of that oppressive ideology, not those who spouse it and defend it and wish to propagate it.
As for “values” - I value the freedom and right to live of all human beings, and I have ZERO regard for those that wish to control and otherwise run others’ lives through socialism, communisms, liberalism, fascism, etc., etc.
Sorry we disagree Buckeye, as I believe you and I have spoken before out here. It’s just the way it is.
Spot-on Para.
I don't think so. In fact, that last campaign probably kept him alive...he still had a goal. I imagine it was the stress of the original prostrate cancer, combined with the operation for the cracked hip.
BTW, have you noticed that no one has released the type of cancer he had this time?
Agreed. I've refrained from typing some thoughts too.
OTOH, the NDP is nothing without Jack, and although I did not wish him ill, I am glad the NDP doesn't have any kind of decent leader in the wings.
99% of the rest of Free Republic doesnt agree with you scumbag.
But then, you already know that, don't you.
In Canada, the choice is left and more left—admittedly the least left of the five parties in parliament is presently in power, but outside of economic issues even the leadership of the conservatives isn’t to be trusted (and on economic issues I would trust the liberals, at least under their immediate past leader, more than I would the U.S. Senate Republicans). That said, Layton did a wonderful job crippling two other left-wing parties, and while I would not exempt him from my tag line, the line does apply to most politicians, and I think it lacking in charity to wish him in Hell. Thumbs up to Proud American from another proud American in Canada.
“Scumbag” is a bit over the top, but hey, you’re entitled to your opinion.
99.9% can follow each other off a cliff too, but that doesn’t make it the right decision, nor a smart one.
Have a great day!
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