The last time Dawn Black saw her former boss in person was at the federal NDP convention in June, a gathering in Vancouver to mark the party's 50th year.
Jack Layton had asked his ex-defence critic and the former New Westminster-Coquitlam MP to toast Ed Broadbent on stage and Black said she was more than happy to oblige.
The pair had dinner during the convention "and if you could've seen him, there was no clue that he was about to face death," she said yesterday. "He was full of energy and full of fun."
Layton, the NDP leader whom Black described as "eternally optimistic," who was responsible for the so-called Orange Crush that wiped out most of the Liberal seats during the federal election earlier this year and who saw his party rise to official opposition status, died of cancer at his Toronto home on Monday. He was 61.
NDP MP Fin Donnelly, who replaced Black, said Layton played a major role in getting him to jump into national politics. The two shared many things, he said.
Both served on city council (Layton in Toronto, Donnelly in Coquitlam), both enjoyed swimming and both had a passion for the environment.
Layton appointed Donnelly his fisheries and oceans critic shortly after he won the byelection in the New West-Coquitlam riding in 2009.
The loss of Layton "is huge for Canada," Donnelly said from Quebec, a few hours after receiving the news via email from the party's chief of staff. "He was a great political hero and his potential was yet to come. He was heading to be the next prime minister."
Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam MP James Moore, a Conservative, was unavailable for comment but in a statement, the minister of Canadian heritage and official languages wrote: "A kind, decent, honourable gentleman has left us. A great politician, a better man, rest peacefully, Jack."
Moore, Donnelly and Black are expected to attend Layton's state funeral Saturday at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.
CONDOLENCES
Books of condolence can be signed at Fin Donnelly and James Moore's constituency offices (1116 Austin Ave., Coquitlam, and 2603 St. John's St., Port Moody); as well, there will be a book of condolence at the office of Port Coquitlam NDP MLA Mike Farnworth (107A-2748 Lougheed Hwy., PoCo). In lieu of flowers, the Layton family has asked donations be made to the Broadbent Institute: www.ndp.ca/inmemory.
