Jack Layton Quotes (43 Quotes)

I think it's very clear that the Liberals have not earned people's votes,

We're facing environmental crises on many fronts and we need investment right now to address these. That's not the approach we've seen in this budget and we can't support it.

You don't have to choose, on the one hand, a party that you really don't respect because they haven't delivered and they have this culture of entitlement. And then there's the other party whose ideas you don't agree with,

If there isn't significant action on some of these key issues that we've outlined ... then Canadians may be having an opportunity (to vote) sooner rather than later,

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.

If Martin is willing to take action on a few key issues over the next few weeks, then perhaps we can wait until the election in the winter, ... If not, then clearly the parliament serves no positive purpose.

send a clear signal to the United States that Canadians regard this as a very serious matter.

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

If there is a government in Ottawa that doesn't share their values there is a possibility they could reject the option of keeping their place inside Canada. It would be put into question.

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

the only leader in this House that will not compromise.

If you want to defeat Conservative candidates in British Columbia, the way to do it is vote NDP.

I suggested a research project would be required and I guess we're in that research project. There are clear and profound differences. But in a community we can find solutions, compromises, to pursue results.

As a result of the stubbornness of the Liberals and the inflexibility that we've seen, we will be starting an election (campaign) tomorrow,

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.

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,

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,

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

When you're sick, you present your medicare card, not your credit card. New Democrats will not stand idly by. We will be fighting each and every day for our precious medicare system.

We will be pursuing the protection of our system with a great deal of energy in the next Parliament. We have taken the view that the Conservatives are wrong on a number of key issues.

Friends, this election is wide open. This election is wide open because Canadians have a real, a positive and a progressive choice, the option to choose a real alternative to the Liberal broken promises and Conservative wrong-headedness,

The federal governmentis in the process of engineering the largest land grab probably since the white man came over to Canada.

There is a culture in the Liberal party that is unacceptable in a democracy,

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

How can this Parliament continue under the leadership of a Liberal Party whose ethical conduct voters deserve to judge and a Liberal Party that once worked with New Democrats to build medicare and now flatly rejects rules to protect that achievement.

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.

When you bring good ideas forward in the context of a Parliament where no one party has been given the absolute authority to proceed, then you roll up your sleeves, you discuss, you negotiate.

We've heard words, we've heard some sabre-rattling, ... But we haven't seen a real plan.

It is completely inappropriate to use public funds to help CBC management undermine public broadcasting.

Unfortunately, for those of us committed to getting things done in this Parliament . . .there's no basis for our party to express confidence in this government.

When will the prime minister finally stand up and tell George Bush Canadians have had enough with his trade attacks,

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

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

There's going to be real change that comes from the people of this country who are tired of being played by Paul Martin's Liberals.

The report has shown there is a culture of greed in the Liberal Party,

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.

They have to be dragged kicking and screaming and protesting into accepting that anything wrong could possibly have been done.

I think it's shocking a lot of Canadians that after an election that was supposed to be about ethical behavior, the first thing we have is an effort to try and fire somebody who is looking into the ethical behavior of the prime minister.

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.

We effectively have a monopoly in the sector, a very small number of very large companies that are setting the prices.

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

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.

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