Local NDP members are mourning the loss of longtime retired federal leader Ed Broadbent.

They include Audrey McLaughlin, who succeeded him as leader in December 1989.

The Whitehorse resident said Broadbent, who died Thursday at the age of 87, will be sorely missed as a much-respected political figure.

“I’ve been thinking about him since I heard the news,” McLaughlin told the Star Thursday afternoon.

“He represented the real decency in politics. I’m extremely sad he has passed away. He really touched a lot of people. It’s the end of an era.”

McLaughlin served under Broadbent as an MP before taking the helm of the party. She represented the territory from 1987 to 1997.

“He was great. He was very good with the caucus, and very intellectual, but not in a pompous way,” McLaughlin said.

“He could really relate to people,” she added.

“He was someone you could count on, a straight shooter, and he was well-respected by the other parties.”

International affairs and the Constitution were of particular interest to him, McLaughlin continued, but he never talked down to anyone.

“He really cared about the public, and the future of Canada.”

Former Yukon NDP premier Tony Penikett became Broadbent’s Ottawa-based chief of staff when Broadbent took over as leader in 1975.

Penikett and other members of his family had breakfast with Broadbent before Christmas in Ottawa, the former premier told the Star Thursday afternoon.

“It was a great, long breakfast where we talked about not only politics but many other things,” Penikett said.

“We had a great discussion about whether social democratic parties could ever come to power without a credible economic policy.”

The two men applied that analysis to the federal NDP under current leader Jagmeet Singh, the Yukon NDP, and the Manitoba New Democrats – who, a short time later, formed that province’s new NDP government.

“Ed was in relatively good health and in good spirits ... I certainly didn’t expect him to go so soon .... I will really miss him and so will the party,” Penikett said.

Penikett emailed this message to his old friend on New Year’s Day:

“Ed – Happy New Year!

“The November 23rd edition of the New York Review of Books includes a rather harsh critique of Albert Camus’s Travels in the Americas which might amuse you –Tony.”

The next morning, Broadbent messaged back:

“Hi Tony. First of all, happy New Year!

“Thanks for the excerpt from the review of Camus. I had mixed emotions reading it a week or so ago. He certainly was not impressed by North America, with the exception, as I recall, of New York City and perhaps New Orleans.

“However, my memory is not precise on that.

“Oh well, our heroes can’t be perfect. This is particularly troublesome for me because, as you probably know, Camus is the one literary hero that I see in my pantheon ....

“It was good to hear from you – Ed.”

One of Broadbent’s visits to the Yukon took place in 1988, when Penikett could greet him as the territory’s premier.

The Yukon NDP also chimed in with its thoughts on Broadbent’s passing.

“Broadbent, who led the federal NDP through four elections starting in the mid-1970s, will be remembered for his fierce intelligence and generosity of spirit,” a statement from the party reads.

“Ed was a champion for equality, human rights, and social justice,” party leader Kate White said Thursday.

“I’ll never forget that he made time to call me during my first election campaign as party leader. He was so kind and warm in his encouragement.

“I was so excited, I played one of his voicemails to anyone who would listen,” White continued, adding, “Ed will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.” 

Broadbent is the second former NDP leader to die in two years.

Alexa McDonough – who succeeded McLaughlin at the party’s helm in 1995 – died in January 2022 at the age of 78.

By T.S. Giilck
and Jim Butler
Star Reporters