Condolences...

Condolences to the family and friends of Jack Layton, who passed away earlier today.

Layton fought for many good causes (such as his fights against homelessness and domestic violence, amongst many others) in his time as a Toronto city councilor and later as a Member of Parliament. I'll admit to having questioned some of his political strategy in the last few years, but there was no question about the fact that his heart has always been in the right place.

It was shocking, even saddening, to see Layton frail and rasping in that press conference soon after his (and the NDP's) election success, but I never actually thought that he would lose to cancer... if only because he was always a tenacious, persistent, and determined fighter in his public life.

Farewell to a good man, a family man, a politician who fought for just causes, a leader under which the NDP flourished, and a fellow Trekkie.