Turmel will head Quebec City meetings as interim leader
Jack Layton will not make an appearance at the NDP’s caucus retreat in September. Members of the party will discuss policy and strategy at the meeting in Quebec City just one week ahead of the resumption of Parliament on September 19, the day Layton has previously pledged to return as NDP leader. Party spokesperson Kathleen Monk confirmed Wednesday that interim leader Nycole Turmel will lead the meetings. Layton announced in July that he would temporarily be stepping down as leader of the Official Opposition to battle a new type of cancer. He had already been battling prostate cancer for over a year.