OTTAWA — Diagnosed with cancer, Federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield has asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper to drop him from cabinet so that he can focus on his recovery.
In a letter to his constituents, Ashfield, a Conservative MP from Fredericton, said he had not been feeling well in recent weeks and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. But he said he hoped to continue serving the people in his riding.
“We were fortunate to have caught this in the very early stages and — with treatment — there is a high rate of successful recovery,” Ashfield said. “My prognosis at this time is excellent. My treatment has begun and will continue through the summer.”
Ashfield, who oversaw major changes to Canada’s Fisheries Act, shifting the focus of the environmental law from protecting fish habitat to protecting specific types of fisheries, said he remained in good spirits and expected to continue his role as a minister in the “immediate term,” but that he wanted to step down from that role in the next cabinet shuffle.
“This will allow me to spend more time with my family and focus my energy fully on my riding and serving the people who elected me,” Ashfield wrote.
Harper said on his Twitter account that he and his wife Laureen were “saddened” to hear about Ashfield’s news and “wish him well in his recovery.”
Laureen & I are saddened to hear about Min Ashfield’s news & wish him well in his recovery. As always, the #CPC family is behind you.
— Stephen Harper (@pmharper) June 21, 2013
