Jack Layton: NDP leader steps down temporarily to fight new cancer
#1
07-25-2011, 04:29 PM
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Jack Layton: NDP leader steps down temporarily to fight new cancer
TORONTO - Jack Layton has been diagnosed with another form of cancer and is taking a temporary leave of absence as leader of the federal New Democrats to fight it.
The 61-year-old politician announced he was battling prostate cancer in February 2010, and Layton says recent tests have revealed a new form of cancer that requires further treatment.
Appearing at a news conference Monday in Toronto with his wife and fellow politician Olivia Chow by his side, Layton appeared to have lost considerable weight and his voice sounded weak.
He said he started to feel pain and stiffness around the end of the most recent session of the House of Commons and sought tests at a Toronto hospital after Parliament broke for the summer.
The tests showed his battle with prostate cancer is going well, but they revealed another form of cancer. Layton didn't elaborate on what type of cancer was discovered.
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Jack Layton Cancer: NDP Leader Steps Down Temporarily To Fight New Cancer
NDP Leader Jack Layton speaks at a news conference in Toronto on Monday, July 25, 2011. Layton says he has been diagnosed with another form of cancer and is taking a leave of absence as leader of the federal New Democratic Party to fight it. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)
First Posted: 7/25/11 01:06 PM ET Updated: 7/25/11 04:03 PM ET
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TORONTO - Jack Layton has been diagnosed with another form of cancer and is taking a temporary leave of absence as leader of the federal New Democrats to fight it.
The 61-year-old politician announced he was battling prostate cancer in February 2010, and Layton says recent tests have revealed a new form of cancer that requires further treatment.
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Appearing at a news conference Monday in Toronto with his wife and fellow politician Olivia Chow by his side, Layton appeared to have lost considerable weight and his voice sounded weak.
He said he started to feel pain and stiffness around the end of the most recent session of the House of Commons and sought tests at a Toronto hospital after Parliament broke for the summer.
The tests showed his battle with prostate cancer is going well, but they revealed another form of cancer. Layton didn't elaborate on what type of cancer was discovered.
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"On the advice of my doctors, I'm going to focus on treatment and recovery," he said, his voice sounding raspy. "I will therefore be taking a temporary leave of absence as leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. I'm going to fight this cancer now so I can be back to fight for families when Parliament resumes."
Party president Brian Topp will consult the NDP caucus and then convene a meeting of the party's federal council to appoint an interim leader by Thursday afternoon.
Layton says he hopes to return to work by the time Parliament resumes on Sept. 19.
"I wouldn't bet against Jack Layton," said Topp.
Layton says he has recommended Nycole Turmel, national chairwoman of the NDP caucus, fill in as leader during his absence.
"She's an experienced national leader in both official languages and she will do an excellent job as our national leader interim leader," he said.
Layton's health had come into question before the spring election after he underwent hip surgery in early March, just weeks before the start of the campaign.
But he put most of the concerns to rest as he maintained a rigorous schedule throughout the campaign, starting out with a heavy, painful limp and finishing brandishing his now-trademark cane in the air in victory.
The NDP went on to score more seats than ever and capture official Opposition status for the first time in its 50-year history.
"I am hopeful and optimistic about the personal battle that lies before me in the weeks to come," he said. "I am very hopeful and optimistic that our party will continue to move forward."
Topp said the caucus will meet Wednesday morning to discuss Layton's recommendation.
He said he does not know what type of cancer Layton has or what treatment he will receive. Asked why Layton has not disclosed the type of cancer he now has, Topp said he believes Layton has told the public and the party everything they need to know.
After a couple of failed attempts, Layton moved into federal politics in 2003, taking over as leader of the party. He only had the support of two federal caucus members at the time, Svend Robinson and Libby Davies.
He quickly won over the caucus. But the electorate was more reluctant.
In his first federal campaign in 2004, he aimed to increase the party's standings from 13 seats to 150, recalls Topp. He won 19 seats, after declaring that social-spending cuts under the Liberals had resulted in the deaths of homeless people, and then losing the support of Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove to the Paul Martin camp.
In 2006, he was able to solidify his party's vote, adding an extra 10 NDP seats. And in 2008, he was able to gain some support in non-traditional NDP ridings, expanding the party's reach in Quebec, Edmonton and parts of Atlantic Canada.
Layton's son Mike, a city councillor in Toronto, said via Twitter that he's moved by the support his family has received.
"He's a fighter and stronger from your support in this battle," he tweeted.
Layton will have Chow by his side as he fights the disease. An MP and longtime politician in her own right, Chow is also his closest adviser, and successfully battled thyroid cancer.
As questions about his health arose before the campaign, insiders said Chow would not have allowed him to hit the trail if she felt he wasn't up to it.
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That's bad.. get well soon, Jack!
#6
08-22-2011, 01:39 PM
Jack Layton’s letter to Canadians
Jack Layton’s letter to Canadians | News | National Post
"Before his death, Jack Layton wrote a letter to Canadians. Here it is in full.
Dear Friends,
Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.
Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.
I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.
I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.
A few additional thoughts:
To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.
To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.
To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.
To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.
To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.
And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.
All my very best,
Jack Layton"
Jack Layton’s letter to Canadians | News | National Post
"Before his death, Jack Layton wrote a letter to Canadians. Here it is in full.
Dear Friends,
Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.
Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.
I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.
I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.
A few additional thoughts:
To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.
To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.
To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.
To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.
To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.
And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.
All my very best,
Jack Layton"
#9
08-22-2011, 02:20 PM
He was the greatest hope our country's had in many years, and he deserved to see much more of his greatest accomplishment. Layton made huge strides for the NDP, and through that, Canada as a whole. It seems like even in his last days he was putting his country ahead of himself, which is something that not many politicians can claim they do. He's going to be missed by millions, and he's leaving behind a legacy that will likely be remembered for generations to come.
#10
08-22-2011, 02:39 PM
Very sad day for Canada for losing a great individual who had so much more to give, very sad for Canadian Politics.