Canadian opposition leader takes leave to battle cancer (VIDEO)
Canada’s opposition leader Jack Layton, of the New Democratic Party, waves to the crowd as he boards a campaign bus with his wife, NDP Member of Parliament Olivia Chow. Layton’s left-leaning party won official opposition status for the first time earlier this year. But Layton announced July 25, 2011 that he was stepping down temporarily to focus on his battle with cancer.
Canada’s opposition leader is stepping down temporarily to battle cancer, less than three months after he led his socialist-leaning party to official opposition status for the first time in its history.
Jack Layton, 61, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009, but announced Monday that he has another, undisclosed form of cancer.
Under his eight-year leadership, the New Democratic Party has become a national force, building significant support in the French-speaking province of Quebec.
In May elections, the NDP tripled its seats in parliament, finishing second to the ruling Conservative Party and forming the official opposition for the first time in its 50-year history.
"On the advice of my doctors, I am going to focus on treatment and recovery. I will therefore be taking a temporary leave of absence as leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada," Layton told reporters in Toronto, the Globe and Mail reports.
"I'm going to fight this cancer now, so I can be back to fight for families when parliament resumes" in mid-September, Layton said, his face visibly thinner and his voice raspy.
(Watch a video of Jack Layton's announcement on July 25, 2011)
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement wishing Layton a speedy recovery.
"Mr. Layton is passionate about his convictions and the future of our great country. I would like to wish Jack a successful recovery so he can quickly return to his post," Harper said.
Layton has put forward the newly elected Nycole Turmel, former head of one of Canada's largest labor unions, as his choice of interim leader, the Toronto Star reports.