Jack Layton Quotations

There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.

People that go through serious illness - you can either go one way or the other. You can either become despondent about it all. Or it kind of rejuvenates you, makes you focus on what's important.

Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world.

Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let's continue to move forward.

The responsibility of a minister is to step aside when there is a criminal investigation of the department. That protects the propriety of Parliament and of responsible government.

Canadians can get Parliament working again. Here's how to do that: elect more New Democrats.

Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me.

A prime minister's job is to make sure the government works for those who have elected him, and not for big corporations.

I played a lot of squash for a lot of years.

I'd put it this way: Canadians want politicians to work together on their behalf. So that's what I'm committed to doing. I think it's been the goal of every NDP leader. Because we had a profound belief that we could do a good job on behalf of Canadians... if we were given that opportunity.

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don't be discouraged that my own journey hasn't gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope.

We have this historic problem that we have a quarter of our population, the people of Quebec, who have never signed on to the Constitution. That can't go on forever.

We are a democratic party. I respect and support the decision that has been made.

Unfortunately it has become clear that Paul Martin and his team are not cut from the same cloth as Lester Pearson or Pierre Trudeau. And so, most Canadians think it's time for a change.

What we need to do is stand up for ourselves when we're unfairly treated.

the only leader in this House that will not compromise.

There are many confidence-testing opportunities in the next number of weeks,

How we vote now will be determined by whether meaningful action can occur on some of the areas that we outlined a few weeks ago,

That doesn't seem right to me. Canadians paid for this.

That would be a confidence vote by definition, ... I can tell you where we're going to stand on that one: firmly opposed, as will the vast majority of Canadians.

We're encouraged that Mr. Harper appears to have taken some of our concerns into account. If Mr. Harper is serious about making this Parliament work, we will be open to working with him.

The question is if Mr. Martin will realize that he needs the support of other parties to get things done or not. We will be putting some proposals in front of the House and convince other parties to support them. However, at the present time there is no discussion of some sort of an agreement,

We want to try to have a productive parliament to focus on issues Canadians care about, ... If there is no significant action in the days ahead, we will have to make our choice.

The government was comprehensive in its response ... (but) I would characterize the proposals as disappointing.

What the government is proposing is unacceptable, ... There's no basis for our party to express confidence in this government.

Bono is no longer supporting the prime minister's position...niether are canadians.

Every member of Parliament has been sent there by Canadians, and that decision should be respected, and that member of Parliament should be respected.

Quite often in negotiations people start out by saying no and then they turn around, ... A few more days and perhaps we'll see some movement.

Privatization is taking place right across this country and there's absolutely nothing to stop it,

As it stands at the moment, if there's a motion of non-confidence on the table in the House, we will not be supporting or indicating confidence in the government.

This avoids the holiday election that nobody wants,

They need a new community on higher ground,

They're about dimes and dollars. A few dimes to you in tax cuts, many, many dollars to banks and oil companies.

It's not fair that prices have risen so quickly -- so rapidly -- because the product that is for sale was purchased (before the hurricane) at prices that were much lower by the companies. So there's some profiteering going on here,

They'll be working overtime to put spins on the ball so that they can try to control how Canadians respond to the report,

If you want a progressive (member of Parliament), a New Democrat, one who will fight for change, then you have to vote New Democrat. It's that simple. In order to have the Canada you want, you have to vote for the Canada you want.

Ideas are always more important than money.

I believe how I live my life every day is my act of worship.

I think Paul Martin doesn't mean what he says. He said he would clear this sort of thing up and he didn't do it.

You can wait forever for perfect conditions or you can make do with what you have.

When you're sick, you present your medicare card, not your credit card...

Don't let them tell you it can't be done.

We want to challenge the established ideas with new ideas.

If I have tried to bring anything to federal politics, it is the idea that hope and optimism should be at their heart.

I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world.

Free speech is one of our fundamental principles and it's pretty hard to speak freely when people are yelling at you when it's your turn. That would never be allowed in a classroom or in any other kind of meeting.

I believe that when Paul Martin cancelled affordable housing across this country it produced a dramatic rise in homelessness and deaths due to homelessness and I've always said I hold him responsible for that.

Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

If it's a flash it's been an awfully long flash. I've been around for 20 years in one of the largest media and political markets in the country, so I'd call it more of a slow burn.

Some people think the NDP may want to get rid of the monarchy but I can assure you that that's absolutely not the case. My Dad was a big time monarchist and so am I.

So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

Well, I say it's time to take Stephen Harper to the woodshed!

Are we allowed to sing? I imagine that at times, it might improve the tone of the debate.

I don't know why we'd need so many more prisons when the crooks seem so happy in the Senate.

And finally, to all 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. We can restore our good name in the world.

Politics matters. Ideas matter. Democracy matters, because all of us need to be able to make a difference.

I've always favoured proposition over opposition. But we will oppose the government when it's off track.We'll support positive suggestions that we'll bring forward and support the government when it's making progress.

Always have a dream that will outlast your lifetime,

Cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey.

I don't think they can run far enough or fast enough to escape it,

The Liberal party has been in power throughout this entire scandalous affair. And Mr. Martin, to my knowledge, has been a very senior Liberal.