Yes, I admit it, I'm hooked on Twitter. And just came across some Tweets about an imminent announcement from jack Layton.
David Akin, the Hill reporters, just said the following: "Jack Layton 'to make announcement about his personal status and immediate future as NDP leader. 1400 Toronto'".
Anyone have the scoop?
Twitter speculation:
1. He's quitting.
2. He's quitting to run for mayor of Toronto.
I doubt he'll run for mayor, especially since he's close to Giambrone and Pantalone and a lot of the NDP machinery has already chosen sides.
Latest speculation is that he's having back troubles and will take a leave of absence. Didn't know he had medical issues but if that's the case, I certainly wish him a speedy recovery.
I doubt he'll run for mayor, especially since he's close to Giambrone and Pantalone and a lot of the NDP machinery has already chosen sides.
Latest speculation is that he's having back troubles and will take a leave of absence. Didn't know he had medical issues but if that's the case, I certainly wish him a speedy recovery.
CTV website has the story, CBC doesn't. HMMM!!
No more light shed here:
[url=http://www.canada.com/Jack+Layton+outlines+political+future/2526913/stor... Layton outlines political future[/url]
Hey insiders - any insight? Scott? Stock?
If that's the case, I'm sure he WON'T be going to the US for treatment. Can't see anything on Hill Times or Google News.
Twitter's a jungle:
Thomas Mulcair, nouveau chef du NPD? Jack Layton devrait annoncer qu'il quitte temporairement la direction de son parti.
Jack Layton to announce affair with Tiger Woods.
And so on.
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.
I don't know anything more than the rest of you. But don't expect anything before the 2:00 EST announce.
Last tweet I saw from an un-named "NDP insider" says Layton is NOT stepping down. Maybe it's a leave of absence over health issues...
I have no inside information, but I'm going to guess that as a result of his back injury - he either needs surgery (note to Danny Williams - it will be in Canada) or he has been ordered by his doctors to rest for a period of time and stay off his feet. Either way, I would guess that he would take a leave of absence as leader and Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair would be his stand-in. If that's the case, I guess whatever slight chance there was of a spring election has evaporated - but on the bright side, we get to test drive Mulacir as a potential permanent successor to Layton down the road.
just my guess.
One thing for sure - the suspense is a great way to get some news coverage!
The NDP could certainly do worse than Thomas Mulcair.
And I tend to agree with Stockholm that this destroys the possibility of an election in the near future.
I didn't even know that he got injured. Hope he's okay...
It was reported last weekend that he injured his back lifting weights and had to cancel some engagements.
This tweet just in from Rick Mercer:
Jack Layton announcement? He stole a ring...
Actually, if it's a health problem, I'm going to stop repeating the jokes here. Let's hope it's nothing too serious.
This is pure speculation, but if it is a health concern I expect it is more important than a bad back. I certainly know plenty of people who were checked for something like that and something much worse was found. I dearly hope this is not the case.
Don't be so dismissive of a back problem. My dad threw out his back and had to lie flat for an entire month and was in constant pain. A back injury can be more than enough reason to have to take a leave of absence.
Not dismissing back problems, having had two compression fractures on vertabrae from a car accident, I know what it can be like.
However, with the House not sitting and all that, making a big announcement seems a bit much for a back strain from lifting wieghts.
But like I said pure speculation.
What isn't speculation is that I hope this is not too serious for Jack, Olivia and their family's sake.
Lots of speculation and conjecture out there:
OTTAWA-Jack Layton has a serious illness but will announce today he is staying on as leader of the federal New Democratic Party, the Toronto Star has learned.
Just guessing, but based on what I know he has been doing, I don't think its back. I'm also afraid its more serious than that.
Hoping to find out its just jumping to conclusions.
All this specualtion reminds me of a funny story from Sept. 11.
Someone I know has a son who was flying from Australia back to Canada on that date. About halfway through the 15 hour flight - the pilot announced that "an event of great significance" had occurred and that as a result no planes were allowed to land anywhere on the North American continent and so they were turning around and flying back to Australia. For the next six hours everyone was completely in the dark and there was specualtion that there had been some huge nuclear meltdown that had wiped out a hundred million people etc...by the time the plane finally landed and people got the whole story everyone was relieved that it was ONLY the Pentagon and the World Trade Centre!!
Don't be so dismissive of a back problem. My dad threw out his back and had to lie flat for an entire month and was in constant pain. A back injury can be more than enough reason to have to take a leave of absence.
Yep I've had backs and done some incredibly stupid things with weights. The pain is enough to make you think about reaching for a gun to end the agony. Well, almost.
I do not see how this would make an election less likely-- the NDP are not going to chang etheir votes due to the illness of the leader. Layton may step aside for a month or so if nothign is gong on but if there were to be an election he would participate even from a prone position. It was unlikely that there would be an election but I don't think this makes it much less likely than it already was. The NDP is not a one man band party (the BQ and the Greens could be accused of that but not the NDP) -- As well even not as leader for now it is understood he would return so there is not the uncertainty of a leaderless party and those standing in for him will take some direction from him at least-- this is not a guy who is going to turn off all the phones. Mulcair will do fine and day to day things won't change-- you bet he will visit Layton if there is something more substantial to decide.
I certainly wish Layton a quick recovery with minimal pain-- nasty stuff.
by the time the plane finally landed and people got the whole story everyone was relieved that it was ONLY the Pentagon and the World Trade Centre!!
Layton had been complaining of a sore back from what he thought was a strained muscle from working out at the gym."It's more than that," a source told the Star.
Mulcair is gonna be in a pretty tough fight in Outrement now that martin Cauchon is back. He can't be travelling the country at the expense of spending time in his own riding.
I mean, I certainly hope Layton is just taking a few weeks off but it could be more serious. Even if it's jsut the back, that can be really tough under normal circumstances, let alone under the rigours of a national campaign. And the Star is reporting a "serious illness."
I guess we'll know the answer in less than an hour.
Whatever it is, I wish him a speedy recovery.
All this specualtion reminds me of a funny story from Sept. 11.
Someone I know has a son who was flying from Australia back to Canada on that date. About halfway through the 15 hour flight - the pilot announced that "an event of great significance" had occurred and that as a result no planes were allowed to land anywhere on the North American continent and so they were turning around and flying back to Australia. For the next six hours everyone was completely in the dark and there was specualtion that there had been some huge nuclear meltdown that had wiped out a hundred million people etc...by the time the plane finally landed and people got the whole story everyone was relieved that it was ONLY the Pentagon and the World Trade Centre!!
Australians especially might have been remembering Nevil Shute, [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Beach_%28novel%29]On the Beach.[/URL]
I hope Jack recovers soon!
I want to retract all the stupid speculation I quoted above. I'm really not happy right about now.
One thing I am quite sure of, and that is Jack won't be traveling to the USA for medical treatment. Are you listening Danny?
Somebody justed posted on Facebook that Jack has prostate cancer.
Well I'm very concerned about him if that's the case and I know that Jack's father died of that a few years ago (at a much older age obviously). The good news is that prostate cancer is usually highly curable. I remember that John Kerry was treated for it a little over a year before he ran for President and that Allan Rock was operated on for it while he was Justice minister.
I just saw on twitter that it is prostate cancer -- treatable but that is waht it is.
Sometimes treatable. That's what we were all afraid of I guess.
The live stream of Jack's announcement is supposedly here:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/ID=1389212991
... at 1400 Eastern time.
CTV website has the story, CBC doesn't. HMMM!!
CBC radio 1 has been informing listeners for a couple of hours at least.
Wow. I didn't want to be the first one to speculate using the "C" word (well not THE "C" word, I guess), but this is what I was afraid of.
Lots of people - Kerry, Giuliani, I think Preston Manning - have bounced back from it and let's hope that does as well. Thoughts and prayers with his family.
This is bad news - but it's not the worst possible news - most people recover from prostate cancer. I'd be a lot more concerned about a brain tumour or lung cancer etc...still it's a very sad (and bad)thing to have happen and i really hope that he takes it easy until he's better - and knowing jack he'll find that very difficult to do.
I wouldn't trust much until the actual press conference.
Terrible news. :( I just heard at work. So sorry to hear this.
cbc is now saying that they have confirmed he has prostate cancer... poor Jack!
This does explain why he hasn't been around much lately
They are also saying that he is not going to be stepping down, but the big announcement was to announce his condition and to bring about awareness
He is now announcing he has the same variety as heis father had. Being treated and feels good. Will carry on as MP and as leader.
Ugh. I guess that explains why it needed a press conference. I guess it's one of the better cancers to have if you have to get cancer, but still no fun.
I hope that Jack makes a full recovery.
He has just said he will be staying on as Leader and MP.
Why did everyone on this site presume that Thomas will lead the party at this time and not Libby when they are both Deputies?
My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was around Jack's age, and lived for another 18 years after successful treatment.
Take whatever time you need Jack.
I'm looking forward to him leading the NDP into the next election!
I don't know much about the treatment of this particular cancer, but will he be able to keep up in terms of conferences ect.? I guess when he can't come or show, thomas mulcair or libby davies can act as leaders?
Why did everyone on this site presume that Thomas will lead the party at this time and not Libby when they are both Deputies?
She speaks no French.
Looking at his wife you can see the concern. I wish them both the best as they fight this.
He did not say he was stepping down even for a while-- just that he will not be as active-- this may mean that nobody will replace him even for a time and that instead we'll just see more people speak and the leader speak less.
This is not necessarily a bad thing for the party so long as he recovers well over the next few months-- direction does not change and people get to see the team-- it may be a good idea to make sure there is as much variety in spokespeople as possible.
I was reading some of the comments on CTV and CBC. I cannot fathom what complete assholes some people can be. The man is sick, now is not the time to try and score cheap political points. And not surprisingly they are almost all coming from the angry right. Jackasses. Complete and utter jackasses.
