LibertasPost

I had a chance to review Brian Topp's book about the coalition 'crisis' in 2008 ('How We Almost Gave the Tories the Boot: The Inside Story Behind the Coalition' ) for the Libertas Post a few weeks ago. And so it is with a certain amount of sadness that I see Mr. Topp has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

'How We Almsot Gave the Tories the Boot' was a fascinating insider's account, and I have to say that I developed a new-round respect for the New Democratic Party after reading it.

And even though Brian Topp's credentials - executive director of ACTRA Toronto, former Roy Romanow deputy chief of staff, former NDP campaign co-ordinator and national campaign director - make his politics rather more left-ward than my own, I have to say that, from my limited perspective after having read his book, I have a certain respect for him as well.

It looks as if Brian is going to fight, and hard, against this prostate cancer, and I wish him well as he joins his comrade Jack Layton in a battle for, if not health, life. Good luck, Brian.