Jack Layton, a folksy and charismatic political leader who guided his party to become the dominant opposition group in Canada’s parliament while battling severe health problems, died on Monday of cancer. He was 61.
Layton hobbled through the campaign earlier this year as he recovered from a broken hip and prostate cancer. Under his upbeat leadership, the leftist New Democrats outpolled the Liberals and became the official opposition party for the first time in their 50-year history.
The New Democrat party issued a statement saying Layton died peacefully on Monday morning at his Toronto home, surrounded by family and loved ones. Only weeks ago, a gaunt Layton shocked Canadians when he held a news conference to announce he was fighting a second bout of cancer.
The spring campaign started out looking like a straight battle between Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Liberals’ Michael Ignatieff, with Layton recovering from prostate cancer and a broken hip.
However, Layton’s party scored its historic win by garnering 103 seats in the May federal election, up from a previous 37.
Layton’s cheerful message, his strong performance in the debates and his popularity in the French-speaking province of Quebec went over well with voters. He once was voted the politician Canadians would most want to have a beer with.
He was a native of Montreal, and a photo of him wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey and pouring a beer during the hockey playoffs went viral in Quebec.
However, Harper’s Conservative government won a coveted majority government in part because the left-center vote in Canada split between the Liberals and New Democrats.
Harper said he was deeply saddened by Layton’s death.
“When I last spoke with Jack following his announcement in July, I wished him well and he told me he’d be seeing me in the House of Commons in the fall. This, sadly, will no longer come to pass,” Harper said in a statement.
Harper later spoke to the nation in a televised address from parliament.
“Jack Layton will be remembered for the force of his personality and dedication to public life,” Harper said. “We have all lost an engaging personality and a man with strong principles.”
Harper, who sometimes plays the piano and sings, said he regretted not getting a chance to “jam” with Layton, who played the guitar, piano, harmonica and accordion.
Canadians left flowers and cards at the eternal flame on Parliament Hill, where the flag on the peace tower was lowered to half-staff.
Layton announced in February last year that he had been battling prostate cancer, but he continued a crowded schedule while getting treatment.
He lost a considerable amount of weight and his voice was very weak when he said last month that his battle with prostate cancer was going well, but that recent tests showed he had a new form of cancer. He did not elaborate on what type of cancer was discovered.
He was remembered on Monday as a regular guy who made friends easily.
On the quiet Toronto side street where Layton lived, friends and neighbors stopped by, some bearing flowers.
“He was someone you could have a beer with,” said Ted Hawkins, who laid a single red rose on the doorstep. “He was a very down-to-earth person.”
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