B.C. Premier John Horgan will undergo surgery Friday to treat a growth recently detected in his throat.
He’s appointed Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth the province’s deputy premier as he prepares for this week’s treatment.
"Mike will be there as support, if needed, but I will continue in all my roles as premier, head of the executive council, the current chair of the Council of the Federation,” Horgan said in a statement issued late Thursday morning.
The premier said he’s had a number of tests done over the past few weeks after noticing a lump in his neck.
“Those tests have revealed a growth in my throat that requires surgery tomorrow. Any further treatment will be determined after the surgery,” he said.
Horgan said Farnworth’s appointment was made out of “an abundance of caution” and that Farnworth will continue on with his other duties, which include serving as government house leader.
The province has been without a deputy premier ever since Carole James, the former finance minister, decided to leave government last year. She chose not to run for re-election and took on a caretaker leadership role in government during last fall’s pandemic election.
"My message to all British Columbians is: please don't wait. If you are concerned about something, don't put it off. Go see a doctor, go to an urgent and primary care centre to get it checked out as soon as you can,” Horgan said.
In 2008, Horgan was diagnosed with bladder cancer, but was later declared cancer-free after surgery and treatment.
Horgan said he wanted to be transparent about his health challenges.
“That type of information just doesn’t stay quiet and I think transparency is really important in these situations."
—With files from Cindy E. Harnett, Victoria Times Colonist
