OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jack Layton threw his weight behind Prime Minister Stephen Harper's move to prioritize the health of women and children, calling on all party leaders to make the upcoming session of Parliament the "Women and Children First" session of Parliament.

Canada holds the presidency of the G8 this year and Harper has pledged to make it his mission to highlight the health issues facing women and children in developing countries when the group meets in Muskoka this summer.

"I'm going to take Mr Harper at his word and encourage this initiative to move women and children to the top of the G8 agenda when those meetings happen," Layton said.

The NDP leader warned Harper that any move to help the vulnerable in the world's poorest countries should not be at the cost of taking on the same challenges in Canada.

"The government cannot continue to overlook the worsening plight of women and children right here in Canada," he said.

Speaking for the first time since announcing he was suffering from prostate cancer, Layton said he was "feeling good" and he "certainly hope(s)" he'll be able to maintain his workload when Parliament resumes.

peter.zimonjic@sunmedia.ca