by: tiffany crawford
premier john horgan will undergo biopsy surgery on friday for a growth in his throat.
he is appointing public safety minister mike farnworth to be deputy premier in his absence but will remain premier.
“after noticing a lump in my neck, i went to the doctor to get a number of tests over the past few weeks. those tests have revealed a growth in my throat that requires surgery tomorrow. any further treatment will be determined after the surgery,” he said in a statement thursday.
biopsies involve removing a sample of a growth for tests to determine if it is cancerous.
“we have a lot of work to do to support british columbians through this pandemic and beyond, and i’m proud of the dedication shown by our cabinet and caucus to that work.”
he said he is appointing farnworth to step in “out of an abundance of caution” to be there for support. horgan said he will continue in all his roles as premier, head of the executive council, and the current chair of the council of the federation.
horgan told reporters that they will know more later but he’s been told it is treatable.
“when we get information from the pathology, tomorrow evening, we’ll have a course of treatment and certainly the public (will be) made aware of that at that time,” he said.