Jack Layton.
NDP party leader and Toronto-Danforth MP Jack Layton.
File photo/DAN PEARCE
Federal NDP leader and Toronto-Danforth MP Jack Layton will be fighting for more than just political issues in 2010.
Flanked by his wife Olivia Chow, the Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina, Layton announced Friday afternoon he’s been diagnosed with a treatable form of prostate cancer.
“It’s the same kind of cancer my dad was diagnosed with 17 years ago. Like my dad, I’m a fighter and I’m going to beat this,” he said to the throng of reporters who had gathered at East York’s Estonia House on Broadview Avenue, the same location used to announce his party’s platform during the 2008 federal election.
Layton, who indicated that he’s “feeling good”, said he intends to have the same “determination and optimism” his father had when he battled the illness. Robert Layton, who served as a Conservative cabinet minister, passed away in 2002.
Layton, who is set to receive treatment for his cancer in Toronto, said he’s one of 25,000 other Canadians who will be diagnosed with treatable prostate cancer in 2010.
The 59-year-old former Toronto city councillor noted he’s inspired by his wife’s courageous and successful battle with thyroid cancer. Chow has been cancer-free since 2005.
“She won her battle and so will I,” he said.
Layton, who recently marked seven years at the helm of the federal New Democratic Party, also said he feels inspired by the strength and determination of the Olympic athletes he hopes to watch on television in the coming weeks.
Despite the difficult news, Layton assured everyone he’d continue to fulfill his duties as NDP leader as well as Toronto-Danforth’s MP.
“There’s a lot of work to do in the NDP,” he said.
At the press conference, Layton’s senior press secretary, Karl Belanger, said his boss would be reporting to work Monday morning in Ottawa and that his work schedule would remain the same for the time being.
Belanger, who has worked for Layton since 2003, said the NDP leader learned of his illness late last year but decided to take some time to undergo medical testing and determine a treatment schedule before announcing it to the public.
He said Layton learned of the illness through a routine checkup and that if needed he’d take some time off for treatment or consider reducing his work schedule. At this time, however, Belanger indicated that no alternate plans are in place should that be required.
“It’s not good news to hear, for sure... (Layton) feels very good and we are all pretty confident about what’s happening next,” Belanger said.
The NDP caucus was informed of the news early Friday.