More

Steven Fletcher Taking Medical Leave From Cabinet

Steven Fletcher Health Resigns

First Posted: 01/16/12 01:12 PM ET Updated: 01/16/12 01:19 PM ET

Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird

A junior cabinet minister is leaving cabinet temporarily to undergo medical treatment, he announced Monday.

Steven Fletcher, a Manitoba MP who holds the portfolio of minister of state for transport, posted a brief message on his website Monday announcing his leave. He does not say for what he is being treated.

Fletcher is a quadriplegic and the first permanently disabled person elected to the House of Commons. He was paralyzed when the car he was driving hit a moose.

"I will shortly be undergoing medical treatment that will require some substantial recovery time, during which I will be unable to perform all of my duties as minister of state (transport)," he said in the statement.

"I am pleased with my medical team and appreciate the support and good wishes of friends, colleagues, and constituents."

Fletcher said Transport Minister Denis Lebel will be taking over his responsibilities.

"I look forward to a making a complete recovery and to resuming all my activities," he said.

Fletcher was first elected in 2004 and represents the riding of Charleswood – St. James – Assiniboia – Headingley

Related on HuffPost:

What the Tories did during the fall sitting
1  of  12
PLAY
FULLSCREEN
ZOOM
SHARE THIS SLIDE 
C-10 -- The omnibus crime bill, combining all the justice measures the Conservatives tried to pass when they had a minority government, is at second reading debate in the Senate and expected to pass in 2012.

With files from CBC
MORE SLIDESHOWS NEXT >   |   < PREV
FOLLOW HUFFPOST CANADA POLITICS

A junior cabinet minister is leaving cabinet temporarily to undergo medical treatment, he announced Monday. Steven Fletcher, a Manitoba MP who holds the portfolio of minister of state for transport...
A junior cabinet minister is leaving cabinet temporarily to undergo medical treatment, he announced Monday. Steven Fletcher, a Manitoba MP who holds the portfolio of minister of state for transport...
Related News On Huffington Post:
 

Filed by Michael Bolen  | 
 
 
  • Comments
  • 26
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
photo
SkeeBee
Offending InFoxtrination Sufferers With Facts.
465 Fans
11:06 PM on 01/16/2012
"Medical leave"?!
Seriously:
It's called a, "Do or Die Diet"!
Permalink  |
photo
john frodo
armchair expert
344 Fans
09:46 PM on 01/16/2012
He costs the system a fortune, and I am fine with that, but he is a hypocrite for not understanding a society that allows him to thrive costs money.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
nete peedham
165 Fans
 
08:16 PM on 01/16/2012
Good luck to him. Hope things work out for him.
Permalink  |
therainisgone
MT
338 Fans
06:59 PM on 01/16/2012
whatever his medical costs have been so far ---add at least 30 % maybe 50% for a privatized system
Permalink  |
therainisgone
MT
338 Fans
07:02 PM on 01/16/2012
all of which would come out of his own pocket
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
elizlucinda
a mind is a terrible thing to waste
962 Fans
04:35 PM on 01/16/2012
Although I am not a Tory, I wish Mr. Fletcher the best of luck
Permalink  |
bradfordkel
3 Fans
04:32 PM on 01/16/2012
To those of you making cracks about his weight: please read the article. He’s a quadriplegic.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
north of 60
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
149 Fans
05:33 PM on 01/16/2012
Yeah so? There's lots of quads that aren't obese.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
nete peedham
165 Fans
 
08:20 PM on 01/16/2012
Don't know which is worse...someone who's obese around the middle, or folks like you, who are fat in the head.
Permalink  |
photo
Add In Canadia
Egotism is a weakness
436 Fans
10:09 PM on 01/16/2012
Yes I'm sure he'll be able to exercise it all off easily. Oh wait...
Permalink  |
photo
Add In Canadia
Egotism is a weakness
436 Fans
04:32 PM on 01/16/2012
The previous 7 out of 8 posts under mine are all cynical, pointed, and rather heartless. I guess this is where Canada is going.

I for one wish the man a speedy recovery, regardless of his political stripe.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
Liban CZ
357 Fans
08:10 PM on 01/16/2012
NOT only Canada. THE whole WORLD.
DECENCY is hard to find.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
Liban CZ
357 Fans
08:12 PM on 01/16/2012
SHAME on you below!
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Runey
religion is why we can't have nice things.
704 Fans
 
03:59 PM on 01/16/2012
Medical leave is right, the man looks like a russian nesting doll
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
nete peedham
165 Fans
 
08:18 PM on 01/16/2012
Saucer of milk for you...classless remark.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Runey
religion is why we can't have nice things.
704 Fans
 
09:07 PM on 01/16/2012
classy is for the meek
Permalink  |
ergoth
17 Fans
03:41 PM on 01/16/2012
he's a right wing demagogue. he's also my MP and i can't wait for the day when he no longer is.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
nete peedham
165 Fans
 
08:18 PM on 01/16/2012
And, I'm vehemently against Harper...but your comment stinks, a-h0l.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
709 Fans
11:43 PM on 01/16/2012
ergoth just wants someone else as his MP, likely from a different party. It doesn't look like there is anything smelly about he comment.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
north of 60
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
149 Fans
03:35 PM on 01/16/2012
Obesity in Canada is a growing health concern with health officials stating that it is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in Canada.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
709 Fans
03:53 PM on 01/16/2012
It does not appear that obesity is the primary problem here.
Permalink  |
homwwilk
44 Fans
08:02 PM on 01/16/2012
You are probably right. It maybe that he has become a liability to the Cons because of his insane expenditures of his office. I'm all for benefits and opportunity for disabled people, but this man's behaviour in the administratin of his office expenditures is beyond the pale of common sense.
Permalink  |
yer
Stop the Alberta Taliban
245 Fans
02:47 PM on 01/16/2012
Smart man. Get the healthcare done now.... while it's still available
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
tnanimation
343 Fans
02:35 PM on 01/16/2012
Thank God! I didn't have my daily dose of 'What the Tories did during the fall sitting'!
Permalink  |
photo
Will Webster
46 Fans
01:59 PM on 01/16/2012
Lucky for him he has coverage we pay for that his govt won't extend to us and which is far above what we have!
Hope he gets well and experiences a reawakening in his conscience while he's away!
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
KNW
49 Fans
03:16 PM on 01/16/2012
I'd like it if someone showed him what he would have had to pay, were he not covered. I think that would 'reawaken' his conscience a lot more effectively.
Permalink  |