Random House - Hope Is Better Than Fear: Paying Jack Layton Forward

Hope Is Better Than Fear: Paying Jack Layton Forward

Version 1.0

eISBN: 978-0-307-36174-5

Published by Random House of Canada Limited

Jack and the Forgotten Native Children Copyright 2011 James Bartleman; Jack Knew We Needed Better Laws, Not Just Better Light Bulbs Copyright 2011 Tzeporah Berman; We Can Do Better: Jack and Canadas Poor Copyright 2011 Pat Capponi; Jack of Our Hearts Copyright 2011 Jane Doe; An Inspiration to Youth and a Force for Unity Copyright 2011 Pierre-Luc Dusseault; Jack Layton and the Future of the Gay Community Copyright 2011 Brad Fraser; His Greatest Battle Never Lost Copyright 2011 Craig Kielburger; Eulogy for Jack Layton Copyright 2011 Stephen Lewis; Jack and a National Transit Strategy Copyright 2011 David Miller; A Persuasion of the Person: The Impact of Jack Laytons Rhetoric Copyright 2011 Rex Murphy; Lovers in a Dangerous Time Copyright 2011 Steven Page; Jack Believed in Building Bridges, Not Burning Them Copyright 2011 Svend Robinson; The Green Optimist Copyright 2011 Rick Smith

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. The use of any part of this publication, reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system, now known or hereinafter invented, without the prior written consent of Random House of Canada Limitedor in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, license from the Canadian Copyright Licensing agencyis an infringement of the copyright law. Published in 2011 by Random House of Canada Limited. Distributed by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.

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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Hope is better than fear [electronic resource] : paying Jack Layton forward / James Bartleman [et al.].

Electronic monograph.

ISBN 978-0-307-36174-5

1. Layton, Jack, 19502011. 2. Layton, Jack, 19502011Influence. 3. Layton, Jack, 19502011Political and social views. 4. CanadaPolitics and government21st century. 5. CanadaCivilization21st century. I. Bartleman, James, 1939

JL186.5.H66 2011 320.971 C2011-906386-7

Cover design: Terri Nimmo
Cover art: Francesco Abrignani | Dreamstime.com

v3.1

Canadians everywhere were shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Jack Layton. The public outpouring of affection for the man and admiration for what he stood for was an extraordinary moment in our countrys history. What made it so unique was the melding of grief with optimism, the sense that we needed to celebrate a life dedicated to making a difference, that we needed to hang on to the ideas Jack embodied: that inequities need to be redressed, that action is better than inaction, that there is joy to be had in making change, that governments can act as custodians and animators of our dreamsthe dreams of us all, not just the ones who voted for the party in power.

The mourners were taking their lead from Jack Layton, of course. His farewell letter touched the country deeply. Many Canadians found themselves asking how they could best meet the challenge he had set.

This book is one result of that inspiration.

It is not a eulogy. It is notor not justa work of remembrance. It marks the loss of Jack Layton in a way we hope he would have appreciated. It reflects on his example, it assesses his legacy, but more than anything it highlights the important areas in which he was a change maker and asks: how do we get on with the job?

In a cross-imprint collaboration, Knopf Random Canada Publishing Group and Doubleday Canada Publishing Group have produced our first original e-book, Hope Is Better Than Fear, which taps into the relentless optimism that Jack Layton brought to his work as an activist, city councillor and federal politician. Among the issues covered are homelessness, feminism, civic engagement and the environment. They are addressed by a distinguished company of voices whose passions intersect with Jack Laytons.

The contributors generously volunteered their time and effort, and Random House of Canada Limited is donating the net proceeds from the sale of this e-book to charity. No cause was closer to Jack Laytons heart than the Native experience, and the two beneficiaries, as designated by his widow, MP Olivia Chow, are the university and college bursaries and scholarships program of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation , and Shannens Dream , named in honour of Shannen Koostachin and dedicated to continuing her fight for equal school rights for First Nations children.

This is a book that seeks to honour a life of public service by responding to its exampleand asks us all to think of ways in which we can pay Jack forward.

August 20, 2011
Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner, Olivia, to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the new year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward toward the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please dont be discouraged that my own journey hasnt gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: weve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Lets continue to move forward. Lets demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.