Ottawa

From Jack Layton’s final letter to the NDP constitution

The late NDP leader’s last words live on

An astute reader notes a similarity between Jack Layton’s last letter and the proposed new preamble for the NDP constitution.

First, here is how Mr. Layton began his concluding remarks to Canadians.

Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment.

And here is how the proposed new preamble begins.

Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. New Democrats are Canadians who believe we can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build sustainable prosperity, and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. 

Here is what I wrote last year about the drafting of that final letter.

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