On August 22 Canada lost a great man and a great leader.
His name was Jack Layton. He was the leader of one of our federal political parties, the New Democratic Party. The NDP evolved from a merger of the Canadian Labour Congress and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1961. It's roots are populist, agrarian and socialist. An early leader, Tommy Douglas, is considered to be the father of our current universal health care system enacted in 1966. The NDP also fights for gay rights, aboriginal rights and the environment. The Tea Party would hate them.
For many years, the NDP always came in third behind either the Liberals or Conservatives who have held power alternately since Confederation in 1867. But in the last election in May, Jack and the NDP managed to pull off a miracle. They did not win the election, but they came in second for the very first time. In Canada, being second makes you Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and it's a big deal. It means you can effectively fight against government policies you don't like with a lot more teeth. It was a breakthrough for Layton with the added bonus of effectively pushing the seperatist Bloq Quebecois out in the cold. NDP supporters were ecstatic.
But in a cruel twist of fate, Mr. Layton was unable to take his rightful place in parliament when it resumed on September 19. Just a few weeks after his amazing victory, he learned that the cancer he had successfully fought had returned. A few weeks later, he was gone, leaving behind a stunned and saddened country. One obituary had this to say:
"Fighting with hope and optimism was a recurring theme in Layton's life. Long before his battles with cancer, Layton had developed a reputation as a fighter — a determined, goal-oriented, passionate one who would take on a cause and not let go. In his teens in the 1960s, he led a fruitless bid to have a youth centre built in his hometown of Hudson, Que. Later, as a community organizer and activist in Toronto, and then in his political work, Layton showed a passion for such issues as the environment, AIDS, poverty, violence against women, public transportation and homelessness. "
On the first day of parliament, the day he should have made his triumphant entry to the House of Commons, his seat was empty. Former political foes spoke of him with affection and respect. The prime minister, who had battled with him fiercely over many years said,
"His passion, his perseverance, his ability to be at once tough and cheerful would eventually win over even those who most strongly disagreed with him."
Mr. Layton had hoped that his party would help build "the country of our hopes, of our dreams, of our optimism, our determination, our values and our love." Maybe his dream will yet come true.
A few days before his death, when he knew that time was running out, he wrote a letter to Canadians. These were his last words to us:
"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,"
Rest in peace Jack, we miss you.