Chuck Cadman, 57, Canadian lawmaker

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Chuck Cadman, an independent member of Parliament whose pivotal vote helped Canada's ruling Liberal party survive a confidence vote in May, died July 9 of cancer in his home in Surrey, British Columbia. He was 57.

Mr. Cadman was elected in 1997, but came to prominence as a crusader for victims' rights after his 16-year-old son was stabbed to death in a random street attack. A one-time rock guitarist, Mr. Cadman was recognizable for his long, silver pony tail. He was once mistaken for a janitor in his own parliamentary office.

Mr. Cadman flew to Ottawa for the May 19 confidence vote soon after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for malignant melanoma, saying he was obeying the wishes of constituents who did not want to face another election. His vote siding with Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberals deadlocked the voting, allowing House Speaker Peter Milliken to cast the tiebreaker -- the first such scenario in Canadian history.