‘Hopeful and optimistic’

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This article was published 26/07/2011 (5225 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — Only three months after riding Jack Layton’s personal popularity to a historic electoral breakthrough, New Democrats are confronting the tragic possibility they’ll have to soldier on without their charismatic leader.

A frail, raspy-voiced Layton, who has been battling prostate cancer and a recent hip fracture, announced Monday he’s been diagnosed with a new form of cancer.

Layton, 61, said he’s taking a temporary leave in order to “focus on treatment and recovery.” The party is to appoint an interim leader Thursday; Layton is recommending newly elected Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel.

Layton would not reveal what kind of cancer he has or what treatment he is undergoing. He struck a resolutely optimistic tone, saying he expects to be in the House of Commons on Sept. 19.

“I’m going to fight this cancer now so I can be back to fight for families when Parliament resumes,” he told a surprise news conference in Toronto. “If I have tried to bring anything to federal politics, it is the idea that hope and optimism should be at their heart.”

“I am as hopeful and optimistic about all of this as I was the day I began my political work many years ago. I am hopeful and optimistic about the personal battle that lies before me in the weeks to come. And I am very hopeful and optimistic that our party will continue to move forward.”

Privately, NDP insiders were shocked by Layton’s appearance and how much he’s deteriorated since his last public appearance on July 3. The once trim, athletic leader was gaunt and pale, his voice weak and hoarse.

His Ottawa staffers were informed of the announcement at a meeting 15 minutes before the news conference. Initially, one insider said staffers were pleased to hear that Layton — who campaigned vigorously with a cane during the spring election just weeks after undergoing hip surgery — was finally taking time to take care of his health.

But as they watched the televised news conference, the insider said: “You could see hearts sinking in the room because the visual was very hard.”

Layton’s health is a paramount concern for his tight-knit inner circle, who refer to him as Jack and regard him as a close friend. But there’s a political dimension to their worry as well.

For the May 2 election, the party rebranded itself as “Jack Layton’s NDP,” cashing in on the leader’s personal popularity. His cheerful visage was plastered on every NDP poster; he was front and centre in every ad.

The party soared to a second-place finish with 103 seats, becoming the official Opposition for the first time in its 50-year history. “Smiling Jack’s” personal appeal was particularly strong in Quebec, which delivered 58 of its 75 seats to the NDP.

The party has set its sights on replacing Stephen Harper’s Conservatives as government in the next election. But if Layton is not at the helm, it may have trouble hanging on to the gains made in the last election.

Prior to Layton, Ed Broadbent was the NDP’s most popular and successful leader, taking the party to 43 seats in 1988. When he retired, the party collapsed, falling to nine seats in 1993 under leader Audrey McLaughlin.

Ian Capstick, a former press aide to Layton, said the NDP leader has devoted himself to building a “modern political machine” with solid finances and a strong organization, and that will outlast his leadership.

There is, however, no successor on the horizon who can come close to Layton for sheer likeability. In opting to recommend Turmel as interim leader, Layton seemed intent on ensuring leadership jockeying doesn’t start prematurely.

He did not choose deputy leader Thomas Mulcair or other prominent MPs, such as Paul Dewar or Libby Davies, who are likely to be leadership contenders. Turmel is a neutral choice and someone likely to have the support of caucus, which has already unanimously chosen her as caucus chair.

Caucus is to be consulted about the choice on Wednesday, with the NDP’s federal council making a decision by mid-afternoon Thursday.

Layton revealed Monday he “suffered from some stiffness and pain” in late June. Once Parliament broke for the summer, he underwent a battery of tests at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Hospital and was informed last week that he has a new form of cancer.

Topp said Layton was in hospital last week but is now home. He defended the lack of transparency about Layton’s health, arguing he is entitled to maintain privacy about his personal health.

As recently as last week, party officials insisted Layton hadn’t been seen in public lately because he was on vacation and there were, in the words of one, “no health issues to report.”

 

— The Canadian Press

 

Excerpts from Layton’s statement

“If I have tried to bring anything to federal politics, it is the idea that hope and optimism should be at their heart.

“We can look after each other better than we do today. We can have a fiscally responsible government. We can have a strong economy; greater equality; a clean environment.

“We can be a force for peace in the world. I am as hopeful and optimistic about all of this as I was the day I began my political work, many years ago. I am hopeful and optimistic about the personal battle that lies before me in the weeks to come.

“And I am very hopeful and optimistic that our party will continue to move forward. We will replace the Conservative government, a few short years from now.

“And we will work with Canadians to build the country of our hopes … of our dreams … of our optimism … of our determination … of our values… of our love.

“Thank you.”