GPSG-UK Joins in  mourning the Death of the NDP Leader of Canada. Canada seems to have lost a  great statesman with enormous potentiality.

    Jack Layton’s last letter to Canadians

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    SPECIAL REPORT: The death and legacy of Jack Layton
    SOCIAL MEDIA: Online tributes pour in
    READ: Book of condolences
    See the Layton letter (pdf)
    OBITUARY: Layton’s legacy as a fighter
    Layton to be honoured with rare state funeral

    August 20, 2011

    Toronto, Ontario

    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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    • CarlSchmidt2011/08/23


      at 9:20 AM ETGod Bless you Jack Layton you are a King among men. May all Canadians be examples to the world and take your letter to heart by voting and actions to make this country inclusive and fair for all its citizens. For every Country and its people are not judged merely by their prosperity but by how they treat the poor and under privileged.


      Love, Hope and Optimism will be your legacy.Rating6Agree with comment (6 people agree)Disagree with comment (0 people disagree)ReplyPolicyReport abuse (0)

    • JAMac12011/08/23


      at 8:43 AM ETMr. Layton,


      Thank you very much for this letter of courage. The inspiring words will be deeply engraved in my heart. You have also shown us by example what a true leader should be, by caring about the people in need, by maintaining the standard of equality, by including Canadians with different skin colours and orientations, throughout your political career as a city councillor, a member of parliament, and the leader of opposition of the Canadian Federal Parliament in the past three decades. As a Canadian youngster, I will follow your footsteps to stand firm in our principles for a better environment and social justice of Canada.

      Here I also express my deepest condolences to Oliver Chow and the Layton’s family.

      Sincerely,

      C. Y. from TorontoRating3Agree with comment (3 people agree)Disagree with comment (0 people disagree)ReplyPolicyReport abuse (0)

    • CodyGosney2011/08/23


      at 7:20 AM ETI hope every fellow Canadian and global citizen has the opportunity to absorb Jack’s final letter. An outstanding piece of literature that defines the ethos of Canada.


      Rest easy Mr. Layton, your message to us young Canadians has been heard and will never be forgotten. You really do know what troubles Canada’s youth, but we will prevail in your memory with diplomacy and dignity.

      To all around the world who have taken the time to mourn for our recent tragedy, Canada thanks you.

      To Jack Layton, a Canadian hero. Rating52Agree with comment (53 people agree)Disagree with comment (1 people disagree)ReplyPolicyReport abuse (0)

    • HankBurnaby2011/08/23


      at 6:53 AM ETIt is obvious there are many whole-hearted tributes to Jack. It warms my heart to know that I was lucky enough to know and work with Jack during his first municipal campaign.


      My son, at the age of 4, met Jack at a meeting for candidates running in the Vancouver area. I had not told my son we were at a political event, but as he was a fan of Rick Mercer and knew about some politicians. He figured out what sort of event we were at and when it was announced that HE was coming in, my son, in my arms, looked to see Jack enter the room and asked me, quite seriously, where was Paul Martin.

      Jack was 8 months older than me. I feel so blessed I knew him.

      Rating24Agree with comment (25 people agree)Disagree with comment (1 people disagree)ReplyPolicyReport abuse (0)

    • Papaj0e2011/08/23


      at 6:33 AM ET It is with great sadness we lost a great leader. It is disappointing I have listened


      to the news all day and have seen and heard the PMs comments and from the

      interm leader of the Liberal party. Not a peep from the New Democrats. Where is Trumell

      or any other leader of the party. I do not believe in there politics but Jack Layton was

      a great politician and true leader the party has shown great disrepect by not coming

      out and talking about ther leader.Rating-34Agree with comment (4 people agree)Disagree with comment (38 people disagree)ReplyShow 1 replyPolicyReport abuse (0)

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    • Parliament and Layton’s passing by Janyce McGregor Aug. 22, 2011 6:40 PM In the coming days Parliament will work out how it will pay tribute to his accomplishments, as well as acknowledge and fill the vacancy his death creates in the House of Commons.

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