SHEDIAC, N.B. — Beausejour MP Dominic LeBlanc announced on Friday he is stepping away from his cabinet post temporarily as he undergoes cancer treatment.
Leblanc, who serves as the federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Northern Affairs under Trudeau’s Liberal government, said he consulted with his oncologist several weeks ago for what began as flu-like symptoms.
“After a series of tests, my doctor has diagnosed me with a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma," LeBlanc said in a joint statement with his doctor.
"I will be temporarily stepping away from my cabinet duties to focus on my health,” he continued. “I have begun my treatment, and it will last several weeks. Once I have concluded my treatment, I look forward to returning to my role in cabinet."
Dr. Nicholas Finn of the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton said non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a treatable condition, and the minister had a positive response to the initial treatments.
"Like thousands of Canadians living with cancer, Minister LeBlanc looks forward to going back to work once the treatments are completed," Finn stated.
LeBlanc said his constituency office in Shediac remains open and, as the nominated Liberal candidate for Beausejour, he still has plans to run in the election this fall.
This is not LeBlanc’s first battle with cancer. The longtime MP was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in April 2017. Following a series of treatments, LeBlanc announced last October that the cancer was in remission.
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