Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart is stepping down from his post after being diagnosed with cancer.
Stewart, who underwent treatment for prostate cancer in 2014, shared the news in a statement issued by the province on Thursday.
“I was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer and will be undergoing several months of pretty aggressive treatment,” he says. “Agriculture is a very important portfolio in this province and it has been a tremendous honour to serve as Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister under two great premiers over the past six years. However, given my current circumstances, I didn’t feel I would be able to give that position the attention it deserved, so I have asked Premier Moe to appoint a new minister.”
He will remain the MLA for Lumsden-Morse.
“First and foremost, Lyle Stewart is my friend, so the most important thing is for him to deal with his cancer. Everything else is secondary,” says Premier Scott Moe. “Lyle has been a great agriculture minister and I want to thank him for everything he has done for the ag industry in our province.”
Moe says he expects to name a new minister of agriculture next week.
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