Tributes paid as Canadian opposition leader dies

Jack Layton, the charismatic leader of Canada’s official opposition, died yesterday just months after guiding his New Democratic Party (NDP) to its strongest federal election performance in May.

Mr Layton, 61, had almost single-handedly turned his left-wing party from the smallest bloc in the House of Commons to the second largest.

“He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and loved ones,” a statement from his family said.

The former municipal politician from Toronto had won admiration for his bravado and stamina on the campaign trail, waving a walking stick in the air soon after a hip operation and treatment for prostate cancer.

Rather than making him look weak, pundits said it gave Mr Layton a warmer image than his political rivals, boosting his party’s popularity even as Stephen Harper’s Conservatives were returned to office with a majority.

The NDP’s strong showing meant that the party displaced the Liberals as the official opposition in the House of Commons.

Mr Harper saluted Mr Layton’s contribution to public life, which he said would be “sorely missed”.