NDP Leader Tom Mulcair shared a thought for his predecessor Jack Layton as he campaigned Saturday afternoon at a corn roast in St. Jerome.

"Today is the sad anniversary of the death of Jack Layton," said the NDP Leader to supporters. "Remember the theme of the last election campaign: Let’s work together."

A moment of silence was also observed for Layton.

It was four years ago, on Aug. 22 2011, that Layton succumbed to cancer at the age of 61. A few months earlier, during the May 2 general elections, Layton led the NDP to its best election result in history, winning 103 seats.
   

In this 21st day of federal election campaign, Mulcair made the stop in the Laurentians at the annual corn roast held by the NDP's Riviere-du-Nord candidate Pierre Dionne Labelle.

It comes a day after a new poll showed a strong lead for the NDP in Quebec, with 38 per cent of the vote, ahead of the Liberals at 22 per cent, the Bloc at 16 per cent, and the Conservatives at 15.

NDP supporter Bradley Phillips is pleased with the strong lead for his party.

“I think they're riding the wave in the last mandate with Jack, unfortunately Jack's not there anymore but I think it's important we continue that way,” he said.

In Mulcair’s homage to Layton Saturday, he said he promised to maintain a positive campaign, despite recent attack ads by the Conservatives.

“It’s a sign of desperation, frankly,” he said.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and Tory Leader Stephen Harper don’t hold any public activities Saturday.

The Liberals were still on the attack, however, saying the NDP’s promise of one million $15-per-day daycare spots will cost at least $3.3 billion every year for the provinces.

“I'm surprised to hear that any other political party would be criticizing it because they've been promising to do just that for the last 30 years. They just never got it done,” said Mulcair.

 

Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe was out campaigning Saturday, continuing his tour of Gaspésie on bicycle.

Though the polls are also showing a trend of traditionally Bloc supporters favouring the NDP, many say that doesn’t mean they’ve become federalists, but instead are looking out oust the Conservatives.

“I am sovereigntist, you know, so when Mr. Mulcair will be prime minister, I will have to fight against him because I want Quebec to be separated from Canada,” said one NDP supporter, Daniel Desrochers.

Mulcair will spend the rest of the weekend at his family's cottage in the Laurentians. On Monday he will head to Toronto and southwestern Ontario.



With files from La Presse Canadienne.