The Hill yesterday was dominated by the laying
in state of Jack Layton’s body, returned to the House of Commons one last time.
Aaron Wherry sets the scene here, here’s more coverage including a number of
photos, and CBC has video of the NDP caucus paying their respects here.
Several people meanwhile think that we should
break with tradition and posthumously bestow Layton with the title of “Right
Honourable,” the title given to Prime Ministers, Governors General, Chief
Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, and a half dozen eminent other
Canadians under Mulroney. The honours system dictates that, like the Order of
Canada, this cannot be a posthumous elevation, but I’m sure that people will
demand it nevertheless.
Elsewhere in the North, while visiting a
gold mine, Harper pitched Arctic development.
And Statistics Canada says that for every
Canadian who takes transit to work, seven take cars. Seems like Layton’s
successors will have their work cut out for them.
