Support pours in for Layton’s speedy recovery

by Pam Frache

When Jack Layton announced on July 25 he would be temporarily stepping down as leader of the NDP, support poured in from millions of people in Canada and Quebec.

Layton is well known in Canadian households for his years of public service as a municipal councillor and as leader of the NDP since 2003. He has been an ally of the social movements on everything from climate change to women’s right to choose.

After being elected NDP leader in January 2003, at the height of the anti-war movement, Layton used every media opportunity as a means of amplifying the call for mass action against the Iraq War, and in doing so, played an important role in mobilizing the largest globally coordinated mass action in history.

These are the demonstrations that stayed the hand of then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien from formally entering the Iraq War alongside US President George W. Bush.

For all these reasons, the news that Layton is now fighting another battle with cancer has personally touched people from all walks of life—including those who did not vote for him. Socialists of all stripes wish him the speediest recovery and send our solidarity to him and his family.

We look forward to his return to Parliament as Leader of the Official Opposition on September 19 when the new session of the House of Commons resumes.