Ed Broadbent, the affable advocate of social democracy whose principled leadership helped build the modern New Democratic Party and made him a titan of 20th century Canadian politics, has died. He was 87.
Broadbent was 鈥渁 fierce champion for ordinary Canadians,鈥� said a statement Thursday from the eponymous, Ottawa-based think tank he founded in 2011 to propagate his belief in social and economic justice.
But observers of a certain age will remember him as a tireless, well-educated fixture of federal debate in the 1970s and 1980s, going toe-to-toe with four different prime ministers, including Pierre Trudeau and Brian Mulroney.
鈥淓d devoted decades of his life to fighting for justice and equality in Canada and around the world,鈥� the Broadbent Institute said.
鈥淗e was a rare intellectual who could connect the challenges faced by ordinary citizens with the movements and institutions striving for economic democracy.鈥�
Jagmeet Singh, the NDP鈥檚 current leader, called Broadbent 鈥渁 lifelong champion of our movement and our party.鈥�
鈥淗e dedicated his considerable gifts to the project of social democracy, never wavering in his belief that we must build a Canada that serves everyone 鈥� not just the rich and powerful.鈥�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement that 鈥淐anada is better off鈥� due to Broadbent鈥檚 鈥渟elfless service.鈥�
鈥淎n advocate for equality and champion for justice, his commitment to helping others never wavered. He leaves behind an incredible legacy 鈥� one that will, no doubt, continue to inspire people across the country.鈥�
Broadbent represented his blue-collar hometown of Oshawa, Ont., in the House of Commons for 21 years, including 14 as leader of the federal NDP, from 1975 to 1989. He briefly served as the MP for Ottawa Centre from 2004 to 2006.
Under his leadership, the NDP steadily expanded its seat count in the House 鈥� from 17 in 1974 to 43 in 1988, a record that would stand until the Jack Layton era began in 2011 and vaulted the party into official Opposition status.
It鈥檚 impossible to travel across Canada and 鈥渘ot meet people who were touched by Ed鈥檚 compassion, commitment, and fierce intelligence,鈥� Singh said.
鈥淗e never lost sight of who we fight for. He was connected in a deep way to the values of working-class Canadians and their struggles.鈥�
Singh also praised Broadbent for his generosity, saying his advice and encouragement helped him 鈥渢remendously鈥� when he was first elected to lead the NDP.
鈥淚 have often said that Ed was who I wanted to be when I grew up. He taught me about leadership and how to turn political principle into actions that helped improve the lives of Canadians.鈥�
The institute that bears his name cited Broadbent鈥檚 2023 book, 鈥淪eeking Social Democracy,鈥� as leaving 鈥渁n enduring vision and his hopes for what is to be done to build the good society for today and the future.鈥�
In that book, Broadbent made clear he believed the only path forward would have to be paved with the interlocking principles of democracy, social justice and economic fairness.
鈥淭o be humane, societies must be democratic,鈥� he wrote, 鈥渁nd, to be democratic, every person must be afforded the economic and social rights necessary for their individual flourishing.鈥�
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