Independent MP Chuck Cadman died Saturday at home in Surrey, B.C. after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 57.

Cadman had been receiving chemotherapy for melanoma, and made headlines this year as he flew to Ottawa to cast one crucial vote that helped avert a spring election.

Known for his ponytail and blue jeans, the working class MP was drawn to politics after his 16-year-old son Jesse was murdered in a random street attack in 1992. Cadman continued his work as a victims' rights advocate after he took a seat in parliament in 1997.

First elected under the Reform banner, Cadman was challenged for the Conservative nomination in his riding just before the 2004 election, by an opponent who had sold hundreds of new party memberships.

Cadman lost the nomination, but easily held onto his seat by running as an Independent.

This year, with a minority government hanging in the balance, Cadman became for a short time one of the most powerful people in Ottawa. He ended up supporting Prime Minister Paul Martin's government on a crucial budget vote in May.

When he rose to register his vote in favour of budget amendments, the government benches erupted in applause for Cadman. He'd kept his intentions secret until the last moment.

His vote resulted in a tie, allowing House Speaker Peter Milliken to cast a tie-breaker to ensure the government's survival.

Cadman said he'd made up his mind about 30 minutes earlier, but he was following signals from the public.

"I was responding to my constituents. Primarily, it was that they didn't feel they were prepared to go into an election," he told CTV News.

Martin's office issued a statement Saturday night:

"The Prime Minister and Mrs. Martin were very saddened to hear of Chuck Cadman's passing. They knew him as a committed parliamentarian who faced more than his fair share of adversity with courage and dignity. The Prime Minister and Mrs. Martin extend their deepest condolences to Mr. Cadman's wife and loved ones."

"Chuck was a decent man," Conservative Leader Stephen Harper told CTV News. "He entered politics for a cause. He fought his illness with a cheerful dignity. And we will all miss him.

"I just want to add that I and his former colleagues in the Conservative caucus will continue the fight for youth criminal justice reform that brought him into politics."

Although he came to the national stage during the budget battle, Cadman was well-known to his B.C. constituents for his battles with the criminal justice system.

In 1999, Cadman managed to achieve one of his own major goals -- sponsoring a private member's bill to toughen penalties for parents who fail to comply with court orders to supervise their children.

This bill, which became law, was inspired by his own tragedy. One of the boys involved in his son's stabbing was a young offender who hadn't complied with the orders of his probation.

Cadman is survived by his wife Dona and a daughter Jodi.

A memorial service will be held at the Johnston Heights Church in Surrey on July 16 at 11 a.m., according to a news release issued by family.