Sad news today about NDP leader Jack Layton.  He was a fighter to the very end.

Many of us knew things were bad when In July when Jack stepped aside to take on up his second fight with cancer.  The rapidity from the opening day of parliament (June 3) to that news conference on July 25 gave many of us concern about his prognosis.  But he fought his personal fight the way that he fought his political fights; with grace and focus and determination.

You don’t have to agree with his politics to admire Jack.  He was an excellent politician and a formidable debater.  I particularly liked that he answered every question by asking Canadians for their vote “…and that is why you need to vote NDP on May 2^nd!”  He also kept the fight about policy.  He seldom strayed into negative, personal attacks.

The NDP party should be what they accomplished under his leadership and other parties should be able to learn from this great Canadian – a politician whose name will be mentioned amongst the great leaders of our young country.