NDP Leader Jack Layton speaks to reporters in Ottawa on March 1, 2011.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Jack Layton is to be released from hospital in the next few days after undergoing nearly four hours of surgery Friday to repair his fractured left hip, his staff says.
The NDP Leader is "doing very well" and is up walking with crutches, Kathleen Monk told The Globe Monday. Mr. Layton's director communications noted, too, that he is "feeling positive and upbeat," is making calls and "is fully engaged with the work ahead of us."
That work could include an election by the end of the month after the March 22 budget. The burning question around Ottawa has been about how the NDP will react to the Conservative fiscal plan, given Mr. Layton's health.
His aides have repeatedly stressed that he will be fully able to fight a 35-day campaign on planes, trains and automobiles - and that all those stairs will not be an issue.
Ms. Monk said Mr. Layton is "feeling a lot better than last week." Indeed, it was a week ago Monday that he was sweating profusely and clearly in pain during a scrum after Question Period. He had returned to the House with a hairline fracture that developed into a full-blown fracture, requiring the surgery.
His wife, Toronto MP Olivia Chow, was upbeat earlier in the day. "With @jacklayton chasing me down the hall, I am heading back to Ottawa to speak to the Lucky Moose C60 citizen's arrest Bill," she said on Twitter.
The NDP Leader had other visitors in hospital on top of Ms. Chow. His one-year-old granddaughter, Beatrice, came to see him over the weekend. He read her a book - and she dropped off some of her artwork.
The proud grandfather shared the pictures with CTV Power Play host Don Martin, who will be talking about the NDP Leader, his health and what it means for the budget and a possible election on his show.