A recurrence of previously-treated pancreatic cancer has put Quebec’s agriculture minister in hospital for at least the next 10 days.
The provincial government reported Thursday morning that Claude Bechard, 40, had entered hospital due to a tumour on his pancreas obstructing his small intestine near the bile duct.
“This obstruction has provoked an infection that has required an emergency response,” the province said in a release, adding that Bechard’s hospital stay should take about 10 days.
In a separate release, Premier Jean Charest named provincial Revenue Minister Robert Dutil, the MNA for Beauce-Sud, to fill in for Bechard on an interim basis.
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“We wish (Bechard) good luck and are confident he will be back on his feet quickly,” Charest said in his release on behalf of the provincial cabinet.
According to Radio-Canada, Bechard was also sidelined for five months after he was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008, while in his previous post as natural resources minister.
The cancer was first diagnosed after Bechard had suffered from digestive problems, the broadcaster said at the time. Tests found that a pancreatic tumour was obstructing his duodenum.
Bechard, the MNA for Kamouraska-Temiscouata in Quebec’s Bas-St-Laurent region since 1997, also serves as the province’s minister responsible for Canadian intergovernmental affairs and for democratic reform.
