Karl Belanger, Layton’s press secretary, said in an e-mail to Canwest News Service that Layton is not stepping down. He also said he was not running for Toronto mayor.
Well, this seems to rule out a serious health issue. Thank goodness for that.
PS: Word on twitter is he will leave his leaadership duties for "several months".
11 comments:
I just hope it isn't tawdry, whatever it is.
Prostate cancer.
My dad had that. They caught it early, I think he got chemo, and it was all pretty painless. He was cancer free pretty quickly. Probably Jack is thinking no election until fall anyway, so I can stay on.
My step-father had it in 2003 and my father-in-law had it two years ago. One went for the radical surgery and the other opted for the chemo. Both are doing fine. 1 in 6, they say. Here's hoping I get a pass.
Reports are that Jack's smiling and that it's treatable, but he needs time off to rest. We should find out the details soon, hoping it's a good prognosis and it was caught early.
I wish Mr. Layton a speedy recovery, and a return to work as soon as he’s fit. We need to keep the pressure on Harper from all sides …that and I’d like to keep calling Jack a ‘used-car salesman’ for many, many healthy & happy decades to follow.
Actually, I've been hearing a lot lately about the over-diagnosis of prostate cancer, revealing cancers that will likely never result in decline of quality of life issues as severe as current treatment for prostate cancer is now.
I'm sure Layton will beat this. As much as I don't care for him, I'd never wish him personal misfortune.
Harper? A diagnosis of brain cancer would make me laugh and laugh and laugh...
That's sad news.
The challenge with prostate cancer is that it's difficult to tell which cases will become aggressive and which will remain indolent. They grade the cells that they find and also consider many other factors including whether there is a palpable tumour. Layton is relatively young for the disease so active surveillance must have been ruled out. Now he's into the various treatment options. Even surgery doesn't necessarily result in a life altering decline of quality of life.
They say attitude goes a long way toward recovery. All the best to him.
First, as a New Democrat, a Canadian, and a human being, thanks for all the classy comments from various Liberal bloggers. Issues like this make politics seem pale by comparison.
Respect to the grassroots Tories and Greens who have expressed their sympathies too.
Quick observation:
Iggy's Office: http://www.liberal.ca/en/newsroom/media-releases/17453_statement-by-liberal-leader-michael-ignatieff-regarding-jack-layton
Duceppe's crew: http://www.blocquebecois.org/bloc_manchette.asp?id=9926570
Team EMay: http://www.greenparty.ca/statement/2010-02-05/greens-wish-jack-layton-speedy-recovery
Yet still, no comment of any kind from the PMO or Conservative Party.
Probably an omission or delay, and not making any accustaions but weird considering they have literally 100 times the resources of even the official opposition at their disposal.
Most likely the result of lazy Tory staffer already being at Darcy's, but seems like a big omission when one considers the PMO's usually hasty cum-premature comms response style and practice.
I hope they'll add an official Tory voice to the national outcry soon. I'm sure it's not intentional, but seems bizarre.
Again, thanks to all the kind posters and our distinguished host.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jack and his family.
Well, from his own words, and those of Mulcair and Libby... Mr. Layton is not going to miss work, is not going to quit anything he holds as a politician, and that it's the same thing his dad beat 17 years ago.
I wish the best for him. He threw it right out where it couldn't be used by anyone as idiot topics and calmly said how common it was and for men in his age bracket to go get checked. He's going to use himself as a case to lure others into not being complacent about the possibility.
The pundits floated how it might or might not affect election possibilities, but one did mention Harper would look crass forcing one now.
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