Dear Mr. Speaker:

I write to you today to inform you of my request to hold an emergency debate on recent advice given by the Prime Minister to Her Excellency, the Governor General, requesting that the second session of the 40th parliament be prorogued. I do not make this request out of any question of the role of Her Excellency, but rather because I believe the judgement of the Prime Minister in offering such advice was deeply flawed.

Jack Layton, National Post

Stephen Harper's recent announcement that Canada will be making maternal and child health a top priority at June's G8 meeting makes him a welcome latecomer to the issue. While other countries have been delivering full-fledged support for maternal and child health since 2007, pledging $5.3-billion dollars to the cause last year alone, Canada has been virtually invisible on the issue. Rather than marking a new approach of principled humanitarianism, this announcement highlights years of Canadian inaction on the health of women and children under Mr. Harper's watch.

Good afternoon.

Today our hearts are still heavy with the loss of life in Haiti and with the continued suffering of its people.

We grieve with the families of those Canadians who were victims of the quake.

And we share the hopes of those wishing for the safe return of loved ones still missing.

As the tragic consequences of the earthquake in Haiti continue to unfold, the best of Canada’s compassionate spirit has been on display.

Canadians have given generously, even when they have little of their own.

Good morning.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti today.

We are deeply concerned for the safety of Canadians in Haiti and for the hundreds of thousands of Haitians devastated by the quake.

We call on the government to provide humanitarian assistance without delay and to support the efforts of Oxfam, Red Cross and others providing immediate relief to Haiti.

We are pleased that the Disaster Assistance Response Team has been deployed to Haiti.

I know that many Haitian-Canadians are worried today, awaiting news of loved ones.

Late on the cold, snowy night of January 4, 1996, my wife Olivia Chow and I, both city councillors at the time, were walking up Spadina Ave. As we walked, we checked on the well-being of the homeless we passed and discussed the problem of poverty in Toronto.

The next morning I woke to learn that a homeless man, Eugene Upper, had frozen to death that night on the opposite side of Spadina from where we’d walked. Since that day, I have redoubled my efforts to prevent homelessness and eliminate poverty.

By Jack Layton

Next summer, if the Harper Conservatives and McGuinty Liberals have their way, a haircut will cost you eight percent more. Burying a loved one will cost eight percent more. Vitamins, a pair of sneakers, postage stamps, vet fees for your dog, and an oil change for your car will all cost eight percent more. Even the price of gas will go up. That’s going to hurt a lot of families, seniors, young people and small business.

Good morning brothers and sisters!

I can safely say that this is the most energised OFL Convention I’ve seen in a long time – and it’s first thing in the morning on the fourth day!

J’aimerais aujourd’hui vous parler d’un enjeu important pour les familles et pour notre mouvement : les pensions et les épargnes-retraite.

But let me begin by congratulating Sid Ryan and Marie Kelley.

Good afternoon Your Excellencies.

Jack Layton asked me to pass on his sincerest apologies – he wishes he was well enough to speak to you today.

I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to speak, and thanks also to Ambassador Iremark for providing such a pleasant place to meet.

A major global economic shift is underway and Canada can either be at the forefront of the new economy or trail behind.

Which it will be depends on how successfully we shift to a greener economy and take up the fight against climate change.

Yesterday I met with Nortel workers who are losing hope that they’ll ever see their full pensions or benefits.

And this summer our pensions critic, Wayne Marston, met Lewis Cook, who spent 40 years working at a pulp and paper company in Marathon. He retired in 1996 and was told recently that he’s losing many of his retirement benefits.

Last Tuesday, after speaking to students at Queen’s University, a young woman approached me with a question. She told me her father was a forestry worker who had been laid off after more than 20 years with the same company in Thunder Bay. Her family was devastated by the news and it looked like she would not be able to continue her education. They eventually scraped enough money together for her fall semester, but her further studies are in doubt. Her question to me was: what I could do – what could New Democrats do – to help her dad and others like him?

Bonjour. Good morning.

I’d like to begin by acknowledging that we are meeting here in traditional Mi’kmaq territory. Please join me, on behalf of all New Democrats, in sending our condolences to the family of courageous Mi’kmaq activist Donald Marshall Jr., who died last week. Donald’s heroic struggle for the rights of his people brings to mind the long struggle for the residential-schools apology that took place in the House of Commons a year ago.

Good morning.

Thank you, David, for that kind introduction.  Let me begin by saying how pleased I am to have the opportunity to speak here at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, and that you’ve come out today. I’m looking forward to your questions after my speech.

I’ll first talk about the battle for health care reform and dispel some myths about Canadian health care. Then I’ll say a few words about how health care reform will help economic recovery, and about working together to strengthen health.

Many of us pay into Employment Insurance for years. Most of us rarely give it a second thought, but when we do, it's a comforting one. We think EI will be there when we need it. But the truth is that Employment Insurance is failing the middle class.

Unfair eligibility rules, insufficient benefits and the two-week waiting period are making things tough for many of the 300,000 Canadians thrown out of work since the last federal election. As few as 40 per cent of workers, and just three in 10 women, qualify for EI. Many miss out even if they've been paying in for years.

Dear Mr. President,

I join with all Canadians in welcoming you to Canada. Our two countries share the world's longest common border. With that comes mutual responsibility and a unified sense of purpose. By working together, our economies can come out of this recession faster, greener and stronger in a more prosperous North America.

What we saw yesterday is what happens when a government cobbles together a budget it doesn't believe in.

Using Mr. Ignatieff’s own litmus tests:

- this budget fails to protect the vulnerable

- it fails to safeguard the jobs of today

- and it fails to create the jobs of tomorrow

Imagine a ship’s captain, setting out from port under clear blue skies.

He checks but doesn’t want to believe forecast.

Some, recently arrived in port, warn of rough seas beyond the horizon.

There’ve been casualties, they report.

But this captain leaves the charts untouched and lets the wind fill the sails.

He knows the way, it’s the same course he’s always taken, and no-one is going to tell him different!

Storm clouds start to build.

The captain hardly notices.

Yet the crew are uneasy, urging the captain to set a new course.

I’m part of the 62% majority.

I’m hearing those words all across Canada.

On this Day of Action on Violence Against Women –

Changing Canada matters more than ever.

Canadians voted for change –

So Mr Harper –

Why are you denying Canadians the change they voted for?

Why are you refusing the rule of the majority?

Friends – I’m part of the 62% majority.

Let me ask… ARE YOU?

Folks losing their job, looking at their last pay cheque don’t know where to turn.

My fellow Canadians, tonight we are at a crossroads in our collective history.

An economic storm unlike anything seen in a generation is upon us.

And Canada must have a strong and effective government that holds
the confidence of Parliament.

Tonight, we do not.

Tonight, far too many Canadians will lie awake not knowing how they’ll put food
on the table tomorrow, or pay the bills this month.

Seniors will check their pensions and savings and see the true cost of collapsing markets.

And in Canada this recession has only just begun.

Mr Speaker, let me begin by congratulating you on behalf of New Democrats on your re-election. I trust we will see greater civility and decorum in this chamber.

We also extend our congratulations to the Prime Minister. Our well wishes to the leader of the Official Opposition in his continued service. And also to the Leader of the Bloc Quebecois.

It’s great to be with you today.

I know these are uncertain times in Canada.

And I know many Canadians are worried about their future, about their children’s future.

I know you need leaders who are on your side.

So I want to begin by paying tribute to someone who’s always been on your side:

Howard Hampton.

After twelve years of outstanding service to the Ontario New Democrats, his leadership will be missed.

As a party leader myself, I know the sacrifices we make.

I want to make a statement today about what working families are thinking today about the economy. And about Mr. Harper's election platform.

Good morning.

Today, Stephen Harper announced he is quitting as Prime Minister.

And so, today I’m applying for his job.