Politicians’ battles not always political
MPs struggle with severe health problems while doing demanding jobs
OTTAWA— The Commons was a house united in grief Wednesday as MPs paid tribute to a Conservative MP who died in office. It was a rare non-partisan moment.
Many MPs juggle parliamentary duties and personal health challenges while doing a job that involves long hours, lots of travel, bad food and little time for family. You rarely hear complaints, but here are some of their stories:
Jim Hillyer, 41. Conservative MP for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, was first elected in 2011. Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose said the father of four had beaten leukemia in the past, acted as a spokesman for the Canadian Cancer Society and recently hurt his leg after a ski accident. He used a cane or scooter to get around Parliament Hill. He was found dead at his office Wednesday, bringing usual parliamentary postbudget business to a halt.
Arnold Chan, 49. Liberal MP for Scarborough-Agincourt, revealed Wednesday a recent routine checkup “revealed my cancer has resurfaced.” Chan, elected in a byelection in 2014, took time off in January 2015 after he was diagnosed with a rare nasopharyngeal cancer. He had recovered and felt well enough to run again in October 2015.
Mauril Bélanger, 60. Was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease last fall. This month, he briefly presided over the House of Commons as Speaker, using an iPad to communicate. He is MP for Ottawa-Vanier and uses a walker to get around.
Judy Foote, 63. Liberal MP, carries the breast cancer gene BRCA2 and beat a second bout of breast cancer two years ago, ran and won reelection in Newfoundland as MP for Bonavista-Burin-Trinity in October. She is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public works and procurement minister.
Seamus O’Regan, 45. Checked himself into a treatment centre in Toronto before Christmas. The St. John’s South-Mount Pearl MP later posted to Facebook that in the past year or two “alcohol was becoming a part of my daily life.” He told CBC his family and friends were the catalyst for his realization that he’s an alcoholic.
Lisa Raitt, 47. Was Conservative transport minister in 2014 when she took time off to undergo surgery for an ovarian cyst, and to recover. The Cape Breton-born mother of two had a history of cancer in her family, and was relieved when tests showed the growth was benign.
Peter Kent, 72. The Thornhill MP learned in 2014 he had stage four tongue and throat cancer, caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), and has been a strong proponent of publicly funding the vaccine for boys ever since. The former Conservative environment minister recovered after aggressive treatment and was reelected in October 2015.