23 August, 2011Obituary Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada and a strong ally of trade unions, died of cancer on August 22, at the age of 61.
CANADA: Jack Layton led the New Democratic Party of Canada from 2003 until his death. In the national election in May 2011, the NDP achieved a historic total of 103 seats, more than double its previous high.
Layton laid out a vision for a Canada with a more open, accountable and democratic government, where progressive policies help create good, sustainable jobs and protect the environment. Wealth should be invested to strengthen health care, education, transport and other public services that benefit all citizens.
Layton also paid a contribution to international solidarity. During a global labour mission to Mexico in 2009 with the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), Layton said: "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."
Ken Neumann, Canadian National Director of the United 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."
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."
IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina said: "Jack joined us on a solidarity mission to Mexico and on the picket line in Sudbury, demonstrating once again his deep commitment to social justice and struggles of workers for a better life. The trade union movement has lost a great ally."
In a message to his friends, written just two days before he passed away, Layton thanked the tens of thousands who had written to him to wish him well, saying: "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. 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."