Tuesday, February 14, 2012 — Cloudy -1°C
City

Jack Layton and His Immediate Future as NDP Leader

Posted by Jerrold Litwinenko / February 5, 2010

34 Comments

jack laytonNDP Leader Jack Layton is scheduled to make an announcement about his "personal status and his immediate future as NDP leader" here in Toronto at 2:00pm.

Is Layton stepping down? Is he doing the almost unimaginable and shifting his focus and run for mayor of Toronto? The Twitterverse is buzzing, and speculation abounds (including talk of him experiencing back problems).

Canwest says that Layton's press secretary Karl Belanger has indicated that he will neither step down as NDP leader, nor make a run for Toronto mayor.

So what is he going to announce?

I guess we'll have to wait and see. In the mean time, feel free to make serious/outlandish/reasonable/funny predictions below!

Jack Layton currently is a Member of Parliament and holds a seat in the House of Commons representing the federal electoral district of Toronto-Danforth. He's been the leader of the federal NDP since 2003.

UPDATE (12:53pm):
The Star suggests that it's health related, and that Layton is "seriously ill" (it's more serious than a bad back).

UPDATE (1:55pm):
CP24 is reporting that Layton will take a break from his role as leader of the federal NDP as he seeks treatment for prostate cancer.

UPDATE (2:10pm):
Layton has announced that he has been diagnosed with and is being treated for prostate cancer. He will continue in his roles as MP of Toronto-Danforth and as NDP leader. The full text of his announcement is available on the NDP website.

Photo: Jerrold Litwinenko.

Discussion

34 Comments

Sort By Oldest First / Newest First

Subscribe

JJ / February 5, 2010 at 12:23 pm
user-pic
He's shaving the 'stache!
Reply
josh / February 5, 2010 at 12:26 pm
user-pic
Temporarily stepping down b/c back issues
Reply
David L / February 5, 2010 at 12:28 pm
user-pic
He's coming out... as a closet Liberal before one of his candidates outs him!
Reply
Malcolm Tucker / February 5, 2010 at 12:32 pm
user-pic
Health problems forcing him to take a hiatus as NDP leader.
Reply
Mad Max replying to a comment from Malcolm Tucker / February 5, 2010 at 12:36 pm
user-pic
Paving the way for Queen Olivia of Chow to rule the land of Endeepee until his triumphant return.
Reply
Chairman Dave / February 5, 2010 at 12:42 pm
user-pic
He stole a ring.
Reply
Hamish Grant / February 5, 2010 at 12:44 pm
user-pic
Headline tomorrow: SPINELESS LAYTON QUITS
Reply
James / February 5, 2010 at 12:44 pm
user-pic
Either coming out of the closet, or adopting a Haitian baby. Or both.
Reply
Simba / February 5, 2010 at 12:48 pm
user-pic
That he is taking a job for the TTC!!!!
Reply
handfed / February 5, 2010 at 01:17 pm
user-pic
go away jack
Reply
Chairman Dave replying to a comment from Hamish Grant / February 5, 2010 at 01:22 pm
user-pic
Sub-Head: Editorial Staff at NOW Weekly commits ritual suicide.
Reply
arg / February 5, 2010 at 01:25 pm
user-pic
He's actually going to be in his constituency office this weekend
Reply
k8 / February 5, 2010 at 01:27 pm
user-pic
If it's a bad back the last thing he should be doing is stepping anywhere!
Lie down on a firm surface and avoid stairs, Jack! No heavy lifting!
Reply
geg / February 5, 2010 at 01:30 pm
user-pic
Jack Laydown
Reply
E / February 5, 2010 at 01:34 pm
user-pic
aww, poor Jack
Reply
EricM / February 5, 2010 at 01:36 pm
user-pic
I would never vote NDP or Conservative. I think this may well be Cancer though and there is no politics in that one. I wish him all the best and a quick recovery and for no reasons of politics hope he will do what ever it takes for him to heal properly. All the best on this one Jack!
Reply
Hamish Grant / February 5, 2010 at 01:53 pm
user-pic
Upside of his back problems (if that is what this is about) is that this is Canada so he can put in an order for some government-approved chronic and reestablish the Layton/Chow household's hippy roots.
Reply
Malcolm Tucker replying to a comment from EricM / February 5, 2010 at 01:57 pm
user-pic
Seconded
Reply
LJ / February 5, 2010 at 02:17 pm
user-pic
he has prostate cancer people, simmer down
Reply
agentsmith replying to a comment from Chairman Dave / February 5, 2010 at 02:21 pm
user-pic
No shit, that magazine is to the NDP what Fox News is to the Republicans.
Reply
Shawn / February 5, 2010 at 02:24 pm
user-pic
I can't stand the NDP at all (or a great deal of their supporters for that matter), but best wishes to Layton in his battle against cancer. Hopefully he makes a speedy recovery.
Reply
Denise / February 5, 2010 at 02:37 pm
user-pic
My best wishes go out to Jack and his family while he fights this!
Reply
zap / February 5, 2010 at 03:27 pm
user-pic
Prostate cancer is very treatable.
Thousands of men get it, have it, and die of something else.
Layton will get the 4-6 week daily zaps and he'll be fine.
My dad is 80+ and he went through it a few years ago.

Reply
notdrunk / February 5, 2010 at 04:05 pm
user-pic
That's odd, zap.

Because my father died, slow, painful, horrific death from prostate cancer.

Here's what I'm going to do when I'm (Probably) diagnosed:

Jump off a god damn building.
Reply
Hamish Grant / February 5, 2010 at 04:28 pm
user-pic
My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, they caught it early enough, removed his prostate and there was no spread - so he is a survivor. One of the interesting things his doctor mentioned when they were discussing treatment was that eventually, most if not all men have prostate cancer by the time they die (if they live past a certain age) - it might not be what kills or even bothers them in their final years, but it's almost always there.
Reply
Michael F / February 5, 2010 at 05:13 pm
user-pic
I wish him well. Terrible illness. Good luck, Jack.
Reply
Picard102 / February 5, 2010 at 07:19 pm
user-pic
He needed a press conference for this why?
Reply
saltspring replying to a comment from Picard102 / February 5, 2010 at 08:15 pm
user-pic
Agree. Why call a press conference to announce prostate cancer? Other politicians have had worse diagnoses and not called the press in.

That said, I hope for his and Olivia's sake that things go well for him.

As for the NDP, they are a political cancer.
Reply
jack / February 6, 2010 at 12:10 am
user-pic
stress causes cancer.. so don't work too hard guys...all these over achievers are dying of cancer..lunatics and beggars really get cancer...people should lead a balanced life and don't work too hard..
Reply
who / February 6, 2010 at 12:27 am
user-pic
Other federal political party leaders have had worse diseases than cancer and not brought attention to it while still in office? Who would that be exactly? While in office, and not alerted the public to their condition? Who are you referring to?

Sorry to hear it Jack. But keep strong, you can fight it off.
Reply
cocoa / February 6, 2010 at 12:44 am
user-pic
Sucks. All the best to him and his family.
Reply
Sean / February 6, 2010 at 01:07 am
user-pic
Jack Layton as Prime Minister is one of my biggest hopes and dreams for this country!
Reply
Caroline / February 6, 2010 at 02:42 am
user-pic
Good luck, Jack! I wish you the best recovery!
Reply

Add a Comment
Other Cities: Vancouver – Montreal