August 23, 2011|Associated Press


TORONTO - Jack Layton, a folksy and charismatic political leader who guided his party to become the dominant opposition group in Canada’s Parliament while battling severe health problems, died yesterday of cancer. He was 61.

Mr. Layton hobbled through the campaign earlier this year as he recovered from a broken hip and prostate cancer. Under his upbeat leadership the leftist New Democrats outpolled the Liberals and became the official opposition party for the first time in their 50-year history.

The New Democrat party issued a statement saying Mr. Layton died peacefully at his Toronto home, surrounded by family and loved ones. Only weeks ago, a gaunt Mr. Layton held a press conference to announce he was fighting a second bout of cancer.