A day after NDP leader Jack Layton passed away, Global News spoke with NDP House Leader Thomas Mulcair.
The Member of Parliament in Outremont, Que., worked closely with Layton as both friend and political strategist to help build the party’s presence in the province.
Mulcair was elected in 2008 – becoming the first and only NDP MP in Quebec – until this year’s spring election. That’s when the ‘orange wave’ took hold in the province and the party earned an additional 58 seats.
Global News: What was the mood and reaction like yesterday when you learned of Jack Layton’s passing?
Thomas Mulcair: “We were in a state of shock yesterday and it’s taken a little while for the reality of the loss of Jack to really hit home. Don’t forget, on June 25th we were still with Jack in the House of Commons, and on July 25th, one month later, he announced doctors had found a second cancer and he would have more treatment. Barely four weeks later, we’ve lost an incredible friend and one of Canada’s great political leaders. The pain and the sorrow among the NDP family is incredible, and of course, Olivia, his wife, is one our colleagues in the House of Commons, and our thoughts are just with his family and trying to get to the next step.”
Global News: When the news came out yesterday morning — what was it like to watch the outpouring of grief here in Montreal?
Thomas Mulcair: “One of the events that showed that Jack touched a lot of people was the memorial at Mount Royal that was organized spontaneously. Hundreds of people came out just because they needed to be with other people feeling the same sorrow. That was an indication of who Jack was and the reaction he provoked in people. His last letter was read last night in both French and English on the mountain, his final message to Quebecers and Canadians- full of hope. We’ll take away a lot from that letter, and continue to work for the realization of his dreams, for a fairer society.”
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Global News: How did you react to the letter he left?
Thomas Mulcair: “The letter that Jack left us was a reflection of the man. He was that person full of hope, he always had a message of bridge building and trying to get across the divide, he would never try to exploit a difference, he would always try to fix it, that was the nature of Jack, the eternal, sunny optimist. It’s unique in politics and we’re just going to try to continue with that same message of hope.”
Global News: What was it like working with Jack on a personal level?
Thomas Mulcair: “Jack was a unique character to work with. The sunny disposition was a reflection of the real Jack Layton. He would do anything to avoid conflict, always seeking a compromise or way to move everyone along to a final goal, which was a Canada that was more just and more fair to a larger number of people. His overriding purpose was to remove social inequalities, he couldn’t accept that in a country as rich as Canada that we had so many seniors living in poverty. When he was a municipal councillor in Toronto he fought hard on the issue of homelessness, and again finding that in Canada’s biggest and richest city it was unthinkable that that many people could live in such poverty. So that’s a reflection of his deep core values and those are shared by, as we saw, millions of people across Canada, and it’s our job to keep bringing that forward.”
Global News: How closely will Jack’s letter be followed?
“I think it will be very closely followed by people in the party. And of course, the party authorities will have a few decisions to make as things roll out in the next weeks and months. But we’re very lucky to have Nycole Turmel there for the fall session, as house leader I will be doing everything I can to make her job easier, we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us but it’s work with a purpose, it’s work with a lot of hope and that’s what we’re going to try and continue.
Global News: There’s a lot to build on…
Thomas Mulcair: “Jack’s laid the foundation for something great. And it’s up to us to finish the structure.”
Global News: Can you talk about your own plans, if it’s not too early to ask?
Thomas Mulcair: “Right now the priority is on the family of Jack, his wife Olivia is one of our colleagues, we’re going to have a tough week where a lot of people are feeling the same sorrow. We’re going to get through this grieving period, and all the rest can be discussed at a later time.”
Global News: What would you say strikes you about Jack Layton’s relationship with Olivia?
Thomas Mulcair: “They were extraordinary bookends, they completed each other. He used to always joke that she was way ahead of him half the time and she did have a completely different way of looking at things, but that’s why they complimented each other so well.”
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