UPDATED Aug. 22 at 12:40 p.m.
The news of federal NDP Leader Jack Layton's death early Aug. 22 hit Greater Sudbury — a traditional NDP stronghold both provincially and federally — with much emotional force.
Layton, 61, passed away early Monday morning following a battle with cancer. Media reports say he died in his Toronto home surrounded by family.
“It's hard to believe he is gone,” Sudbury NDP MP Glenn Thibeault said. “It's extremely shocking and I wasn't expecting it at all. In the passing of any friend, it's a roller-coaster of emotions.
“We've truly lost a great ambassador for our country. For many of us, we lost a friend and that is the toughest part. My heart goes out to his family. I'm going to miss the guy.”
Layton led the NDP party to Official Opposition status earlier this year during the federal election. In late July, Layton announced he was fighting a new form of cancer and took a leave of absence from the party to focus his energy on getting well. He had already been battling prostate cancer when the new form of cancer was discovered.
Jack Layton is seen here at an event in Greater Sudbury during the federal election this past spring. Layton passed away Aug. 22 after a battle with cancer. File photo.
Layton never divulged specific information about the new cancer, but did explain his treatment would take up the remainder of the summer. Layton planned on returning to parliament in late September.
Thibeault said he and the NDP party know they must pick up the pieces and keep moving forward. He said it is a difficult blow for the NDP party to absorb, but he knows the party members and supporters will step up and rise to overcome the loss of their “charismatic leader.”
“We're going to have a great run for the next four years and it's just sad Jack will not be there to see it,” he said. “It will fall to us MPs to bring forward Jack's dreams and ideas.
“Jack is irreplaceable in terms of who he was, what he was and how he went about his business,” Thibeault added. “We will mourn his death. We will go to his funeral and then we will regroup and move forward from there. This will strengthen our resolve to make sure we keep fighting for our country.”
Layton was a genuine influence in Thibeault's life and career as a politician, he said. The Sudbury MP met Layton prior to the election in 2008 and after talking to the NDP leader, Thibeault knew politics was the right path for him to follow.
“Jack was an inspiration,” Thibeault said. “He had a great sense of humour and he was so down to earth. He was committed to his job and he loved helping people. I met Jack on Aug. 26, 2008 when I was still deciding to go into politics or not. After meeting with him, I knew I would be proud to be associated with Jack and the NDP party and I still am to this day.”
Provincial NDP party leader Andrea Horwath expressed sympathy to supporters and family members.
“Today, New Democrats lost a leader, a mentor and a friend,” she said in a press release. “Jack Layton taught Canadians a new kind of politics. He inspired a generation of voters with his principles of compassion, fairness and equality. He set an example. He brought us together. He spoke to all Canadians, in the cities, in the north, in the country and on the coasts. My heart goes out to Olivia, Mike, Sarah and all of Jack’s family and friends. We’ll miss you Jack.”
The office for Nickel Belt NDP MP Claude Gravelle also expressed deep sadness over the news of Layton's death. An official with Gravelle's office stated the MP was having a tough time coming to terms with Layton's passing and was unavailable for comment until Tuesday.
Layton earned a tremendous amount of respect in the Canadian political community. Even rivals put aside differences to offer up support and encouraging words.
“Extremely sad to hear of Jack Layton's passing this morning,” Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci said on his Facebook account. “He was a courageous man who was passionate about his beliefs and I have tremendous respect for that. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Thibeault expects Layton's presence to be felt for a long time on the consciences of Canadians.
“He left a lasting imprint, not only on our party, but on Canadians and Canadian politics,” Thibeault said.
Thibeault's office, located in the Rainbow Centre downtown, will set up a book of condolences for Greater Sudbury residents to sign.
Original story:
Federal NDP leader Jack Layton has passed away after a battle with cancer, according to national media reports.
Sixty-one-year-old Layton had been on a leave of absence as party leader since July 25, when he temporarily stepped aside to fight a second — and evidently much more serious — bout of cancer.
Layton died at his home in Toronto early Aug. 22, surrounded by family, according to CBC.ca.
Check back to NorthernLife.ca for more on this story as it becomes available.
-Posted by Heidi Ulrichsen
