Close X
Monday, December 23, 2024
ADVT 
Tech

Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo leaving caucus over 'addiction issues'

Darpan News Desk, 01 Jun, 2016 01:09 PM
    OTTAWA — Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo, citing "addiction issues," has resigned from the federal cabinet and is leaving the Liberal caucus.
     
    Dominic LeBlanc, the government's House leader, will assume Tootoo's cabinet responsibilities.
     
    A statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office says Tootoo is "taking time to seek treatment for addiction issues."
     
    Tootoo, the first northerner to take on the role of fisheries minister, issued a brief statement saying he was stepping down in order not to distract from the important work of his colleagues.
     
    Tootoo said he has "decided to seek treatment for addiction issues" and asked for "privacy at this time."
     
    The nature of his addiction was not specified.
     
    The announcement about Tootoo's troubles drew words of support from former Ontario premier Bob Rae, who tweeted: "Wish him well in his battle."
     
    And Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler also took to Twitter to offer support for Tootoo on behalf of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation in northern Ontario: "sending prayers and support to Hunter Tootoo as he seeks healing."
     
    Tootoo was born in Rankin Inlet in 1963 and immediately had to fight for his life.
     
    "I was medevaced (airlifted) out," Tootoo told The Canadian Press in an interview last year.
     
    "I was in an incubator for the first three months of my life, so I am told."
     
    After overcoming this struggle, Tootoo went on to live in various parts of Canada, including Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan before making his way back to the North in the early 1990s.
     
    The 52-year-old was first elected as the MLA for Iqaluit Centre in 1999, where he served for 14 years and was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly until 2013. He also held a number of cabinet positions in the territorial government.
     
    In November, a month after Tootoo defeated former Conservative cabinet minister Leona Aglukkaq to claim the federal riding of Nunavut, he said in an interview he hoped to transfer his political experience to a national scale.
     
    "I think that it is going to be very beneficial to me as we move forward," he told The Canadian Press.
     
    In the November interview, Tootoo said he was "very proud to be the first aboriginal person, first northern person to be appointed to this position."
     
    Tootoo is related to NHL player Jordin Tootoo, a forward for the New Jersey Devils, but he has been quick to quash the idea he may share some of the hockey skills honed by his cousin.
     
    "I watch hockey," he said in the interview. "The only sport I do is curling."
     
    Tootoo isn't the first Liberal MP in this government to seek help for addiction problems.
     
    In January, rookie Newfoundland MP Seamus O'Regan announced he was back to work after getting help for a drinking problem.
     
    At the time, Trudeau tweeted his support for O'Regan, who did not leave the Liberal caucus.

    MORE Tech ARTICLES

    Googling Yourself Now Leads To Personal Privacy Controls

    Googling Yourself Now Leads To Personal Privacy Controls
    Now all you need to do is Google yourself if you're wondering how deeply Google has been digging into your digital life.

    Googling Yourself Now Leads To Personal Privacy Controls

    Microsoft Seeks To Empower Every Indian: Satya Nadella

    Microsoft's focus on India is to empower every citizen and organisation so that they can perform better than their potential and achieve more for themselves and the country, the US giant's chief executive Satya Nadella said here on Monday.

    Microsoft Seeks To Empower Every Indian: Satya Nadella

    Sentence In Assault Case Cut By A Day To Avoid Immigration Trouble: Appeal Court

    Sentence In Assault Case Cut By A Day To Avoid Immigration Trouble: Appeal Court
      Court documents show Nigel Frater pleaded guilty last year to assault and two counts of breach of probation and was sentenced to six months in jail, which he had already served while awaiting trial.

    Sentence In Assault Case Cut By A Day To Avoid Immigration Trouble: Appeal Court

    Coming Soon To Twitter: More Room To Tweet

    The social media service said Tuesday that in coming months, photos, videos and other media won't count toward Twitter's 140-character limit.

    Coming Soon To Twitter: More Room To Tweet

    Apps are future of TV: Apple Boss Tim Cook

    Apps are future of TV: Apple Boss Tim Cook
    Cook was speaking at a meeting of tech and other startups in Amsterdam, two months after Apple announced software enhancements for its TV system, Apple TV, and knocked $50 off the price of its smart watch.

    Apps are future of TV: Apple Boss Tim Cook

    LinkedIn Confirms 2012 Hack Exposed 117 Million User Passwords

    LinkedIn Confirms 2012 Hack Exposed 117 Million User Passwords
    NEW YORK — LinkedIn said Wednesday that a 2012 breach resulted in more than 100 million of its users' passwords being compromised — vastly more than previously thought.

    LinkedIn Confirms 2012 Hack Exposed 117 Million User Passwords

    PrevNext