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23 August, 2011
Jack Layton, the soul of a progressive Canada and leader of the NDP, passed away Monday, 22 August, of cancer. For the past decade and more, Layton has led a populist surge in Canada that has given NDP, the party of fairness and justice, the official opposition stamp – since May 2011 – to the ruling neo-liberal Tories. Layton was 61.
Layton had recently been diagnosed with his second bout against cancer. He died at 4h45 on 22 August in his home and surrounded by his family.
Layton’s energy and conviction inspired ordinary Canadians and statements on his passing testified to that. Statements by North American unions said Layton’s inspiration, ideas, and vision must push faster forward.
In a statement to Canadian unions, the ICEM said, “What happens in Canada has global significance” (see full ICEM letter). The ICEM remembers Layton as a courageous fighter for social justice, depicted best in his own words on the labour strife brought by Vale, the Brazilian mining giant, or to the Mexican government on its union smashing.
In Sudbury at the beginning of a bitter year-long strike Vale provoked against Canadian living standards, Layton stood among thousands of miners, and emphatically said, “They cannot take away what working people have built over generations in this country, or this town.”
Toronto: Tributes to Jack Layton
In 2009, Layton was part a global labour mission to Mexico sponsored by the ICEM and International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF). He accurately summarised the full trade union climate in Mexico: “We made it clear that the government’s interference in union governance, it’s jailing of union leaders and freezing union bank accounts, declaring strikes illegal and failing to prosecute the killers of union leaders, are serious and unacceptable violations of basic human rights.”
Dave Coles, President of the Communications, Energy, Paperworkers (CEP) of Canada said: “I knew Jack Layton as a principled social democrat who was utterly committed to social justice and peace. Thousands of our members knew Jack by his first name, as a leader who had reached out to them in their workplaces and communities. Jack Layton paid attention to our members’ deepest concerns and gave them unqualified support in their struggles.”
Ken Neumann, Canadian National Director of the Untied Steelworkers (USW), said: “Jack reawakened Canadians to the reality that government can – and must – play a positive role in ensuring the economic and social wellbeing of its citizens. Steelworkers will help lead the way in honouring Jack’s legacy by carrying on his fight to build a better Canada and a better world.”
Ken Lewenza, President of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) said in a message to the NDP: “At Jack’s passing, your voice of conscience is needed more than ever. Your efforts can and will make a difference in the direction of our country.” The CAW also said in mourning, progressive Canada must reflect on Jack’s vision for Canada “and how we can endeavour to make some of his cherished ideas a reality.”
Jack Layton was born in Hudson, Quebec, into a political family. He entered public service in 1982 as a member of the Toronto City Council after leaving academia. His years on the city council of Canada’s largest city were marked by many accomplishments concerning poverty, homelessness, public transport, and environmental stewardship. In 2004, Layton won election to the federal Parliament as NDP leader, and the NDP has grown steadily to where it now is the logical political choice for a social Canada, and beyond. The ICEM letter said Jack stood always for workers, the poor, the disenfranchised.
Jack is survived by his wife, Olivia, his dedicated political partner; and a son, Mike, a member of the Toronto City Council, and daughter, Sarah, who works for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.