Quote:Another upstart politico who recently succumbed to cancer was Canadian National Democratic Party (NDP) leader, Jack Layton. On May 2, 2011, he led his party to the most successful result in the NDP’s history, winning 103 seats—enough to form Canada’s Official Opposition. It was a short-lived victory for Layton, who succumbed to cancer on August 22, less than four months later. Layton was committed to ousting the conservative Harper government and the NDP’s leftist policies are in stark contrast to the policies being promoted under the Stephen Harper reign. Prime Minister Harper is largely considered to be a faithful lap dog for US interests.