NDP caucus backs Turmel as interim leader

NDP MP Nycole Turmel says she is "overwhelmed"by the support of her caucus colleagues to have her fill in for party leader Jack Layton while he battles cancer.

Therookie parliamentarianwas unanimously backed by her fellow New Democratic MPs to be their interim leader at a special summer caucus meeting on Parliament Hill on Wednesday. The meeting was prompted by Layton's surprise announcement Monday that he is taking time off tofight a second bout of cancer.

At the news conference where Layton delivered the stunning news,he said he was recommending Turmel to take on his duties as leader of the Official Opposition and that he is aiming to be back to work by Sept. 19, when Parliament resumes.

Now that the caucus has confirmed Layton's recommendation, Turmel's endorsementgoes to the NDP's federal councilfor a final decisionThursday.

"I'm overwhelmed by the support of the caucus today. I'm also ready to take on the job as long as the federal council accepts the recommendation of the caucus," Turmel said. "We have a strong caucus, we havea strong leaderin Jack Layton. We want to give him the time to rest to come back in September."

Turmel did not take questions from reporters.

Libby Davies and Thomas Mulcair, both deputy leaders, said the party is united and feeling strong.

"For 2 hours we've had a wonderful discussion supporting each other and our leader," Davies said.

Caucus meeting 'emotional'

NDP MP Peter Julian saidall butseven of the party's 103 MPs were at Wednesday's meeting.

"It was emotional, there's no doubt. We're all dealing with what Jack announced on Monday, but also very determined," he told host Evan Solomon on CBC's Power & Politics.

Layton addressed his MPs, many of whom learned his news by watching hispress conference on Monday, via Skype from Toronto. Davies said her leader is renowned for his hope and optimism and he expressedhis positive attitudeagain Wednesday when talking about his latest health challenge.

Layton was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009 and was recently diagnosed with a second form of the disease, thoughhe hasn't said what kind. He also had hip surgery earlier this year for a hairline fracture.

New Democratic MPs havevoiced sadness and surpriseat their leader's health setback, coming just months after the party's historic electiongainsin theMay 2 general election. But Davies said morale is high and thecaucus isdetermined to work hard whileLayton is away.

"Everybody feels very energized and very invigorated and very committed about what it is that we take on," she said.

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent told Solomon the caucus assumes Layton will be back as expected in September. He said Turmel will be given all the scope of a leader, and that he expects she'll be consulting with Layton. Broadbent saidhe'll be available toTurmel if she wants advice.

"I'm there and that's what Nycole has to know. It's her call," he said.

Final decision Thursday

Partypresident Brian Topp, who spoke toLayton ahead ofWednesday's caucus meeting, told reporters thathis voice was strongand that he had asked Topp toconveyhis gratitude for the thousands of messages he's received from Canadians over the last two days.

Topp saidtheNDP's federal council aims to announce the interim leader by the end of the day Thursday.Topp left little doubt, however, that Turmel will be named Layton's temporary replacement.

He said he hasn't heard anyone question Layton's pick and described Turmel as an "impressive woman" who has a long history with the NDP.

Turmel, the MP for the Quebec riding of HullAylmer,located across the river from Ottawa,is "already a well-known public figure in the province ofQuebec and is about to become a well-known national figure," Topp said.

The former public service union leader is one of many new MPs in the NDP caucus, but she quickly made a positive impressionandwas unanimously elected caucus chair.

Long-term speculation

NDP officialsfielded a raft ofquestionsWednesday about what would happen beyond Sept. 19 if Layton is not well enough to return tohis seat in theCommons opposite Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"Right now, today, we're focused on getting together, showing our solidarity and support for our leader and each other,"deputy leader Davies said.

Pressed to say whether there was discussion at the caucus meeting about whether Turmel would continue as interim leader if Layton isn't ready to come back in the fall, she said only that the party "will go through the rest of the summer, we'll prepare forthe fall session and then obviously we'll make an assessment about where things are at."

Daviessaid that the caucus wants Layton to focus on his health, and that when he comes back will be up to him and his doctors.

'Jack Laytonhas been the brand of the party, but he's also produced a very strong team.' NDP MP Jack Harris

Topp alsoanswered queriesabout what would happen if Layton can't resume his leadership duties andabout the possibilityof MPs jockeying to replace him. He saidthat he expectspeople in the partyto beambitious and to want to play a leading role. But Layton is the most popular leaderthe NDP hasever had, he noted,adding thathedoesn't think any MPs want to see each other interfere with Layton's goals for the party.

"I would be astonished if there were egregious or unhelpful moves by members of the team,and anybody who did actionsin the months to come would probably regret it,"Topp said.

St. John'sMP Jack Harris acknowledged that many view Layton as the one and only face of the NDP, but like his colleagues he emphasized that their leader has built a solid caucus over the years.

"Jack Laytonhas been the brand of the party, but he's also produced a very strong team," he said. "It's up to us to put extra effort into ensuring that that continues."

Layton, the MP for the riding of TorontoDanforth,is receiving treatment at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital.

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