Jack Layton dead at 61

I was saddened to see today that Canadian opposition leader Jack Layton had passed away. Jack Layton was leader of Canada's Social Democratic (a quasi-socialist party) party and had been leader of Canada's official opposition for almost a year.

I thought Layton was one of Canada's better politicians. While he could often be accused of using straw man arguments and playing to Canada's shameful strain of anti-Americanism when a solid argument was not available I do think that overall he did more good than bad, and for a politician that is high praise indeed.

He created a genuine third party in Canada. For over a century Canadians have elected Liberal after Liberal until they become so complacent and corrupt that we vote in a conservative. We wind up with a Mulroney which reminds us why we voted liberal in the first place and the cycle starts all over again. Layton changed all that. When he took over as the New Democratic Party leader the idea that they could even form a coherent opposition was laughable. They were a protest party. Vote NDP to send the liberals a message, then when it looks like the conservatives might win everyone vote liberal again. Layton helped give their party a voice and a reason for really existing. It wasn't always easy. His "lend us your vote" campaign may go down as one of Canada's most laughable , but he later picked it up and debated and campaigned and eventually gave enough people confidence in his party to vote them in as opposition. He made Canada a three party system. That is huge and is probably his greatest legacy, and it's a hugely important one.

He was also surprisingly effective in opposition (to a government that desperately needs strong opposition) and I do wonder how things will play out with him gone. He got young people interested in politics (I don't mean by having them show up to vote then go home and watch reality TV, but interested in the social and political fabric of Canada and the world at large). He also was a strong voice in keeping Canada out of Iraq and opposed military intervention in other regions where Canada did/does not belong, and for that alone he deserves great praise. He also appreciated that Canada was larger than the great lakes/St. Lawrence river area, something that the liberal party has yet to figure out and something that the conservative party, while having roots in the west, is keen to try and forget. Finally, he was one of the few politicians that had a civility about him. He attacked the idea and platform, but rarely the man.

I hope the next leader of teh NDP (and thus the opposition) follows in many of Jack's traditions. I do hope that they have a slightly larger view of the world (ie - the world does not end with the Ottawa/Washington relations and North American ideas and ideals) but really I think the NDP will be lucky to get someone who can do for them what Jack did with the class in which Jack did it.

Finally, condolences to his wife Olivia Chow and their children. Theirs is the real loss.