OTTAWA -- Dominic LeBlanc is stepping away temporarily from his duties as intergovernmental and northern affairs minister after being diagnosed with a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The 52-year-old plans to go back to work once treatment is completed and he still intends to run for re-election this fall in the New Brunswick riding of Beausejour, which he has held since 2000.
This is LeBlanc's second bout with cancer; he was diagnosed in April 2017 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and was declared to be in "complete remission" last October.
His oncologist, Dr. Nicholas Finn, says non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a treatable condition and LeBlanc has responded positively to initial treatments.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau will take over LeBlanc's duties on the intergovernmental and internal-trade files for now.
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett will take on issues related to northern affairs.
