National

Victoria MLA steps back to support young son

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Mar, 2021 06:47 PM

A member of the British Columbia legislature says she's stepping back from her duties because her four-year-old son has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore says in a message on her constituency Facebook page that the tumour was found in her son Asher last month.

Lore, who is also parliamentary secretary for gender equity, says she will remain a member of the assembly, but is relying on the support of her office staff and colleagues while she cares for her family.

(CW: childhood illness)

Victoria-Beacon Hill community members, friends, neighbours – an update on myself and our community office.

In Feb, we found a tumour in my 4yo son’s brain. so I have had to take a step back to care for Asher and my family. https://t.co/VKMi8frs7k pic.twitter.com/FKUpKoky73
— Grace Lore (@GraceALore) March 21, 2021

To neighbours, friends, and family, who’ve delivered food and more – thank you. And to all British Columbians – you’ve kept COVID under control by missing the things you love so that we can keep each other and our families safe – thank you! Please keep it up, we’re almost there
— Grace Lore (@GraceALore) March 21, 2021

She says her community office remains accessible by email and phone in keeping with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

On behalf of herself and her family, she thanks those at B.C. Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.

Lore, a New Democrat first elected last fall, has received messages of support from many members of the legislature, including Premier John Horgan and interim Liberal Leader Shirley Bond.

Oh no, so very sorry to hear this. Wishing you and your family nothing but the best in the days ahead. Thinking good thoughts for your son! https://t.co/I0PxgAoVhz
— Shirley Bond (@shirleybond) March 21, 2021

"Family comes first. We are all holding Grace and little Asher close in our hearts," says the premier in a statement Monday.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Hundreds more COVID deaths expected but Trudeau says Canada is making progress

Thousands more people are expected to contract COVID-19 and hundreds will likely die in the coming week, according to government projections, despite the progress the country has made in fighting the pandemic. Canada's case rate is now doubling every 16 days rather than three to five days seen about three weeks ago, Dr. Theresa Tam, the country's top public health officer, said on Thursday.

Hundreds more COVID deaths expected but Trudeau says Canada is making progress

HSBC Bank Canada reports Q1 profit down as it expects downturn to hurt loans

HSBC Bank Canada reported a drop in its first-quarter profit compared with a year ago as it took a charge related to bad loans it expects due to the downturn in the economy. The bank says it earned a profit attributable to common shareholders of $54 million or 11 cents per share for the quarter ended March 31. That's compared with a profit of $158 million or 32 cents per share in the first three months of 2019.

HSBC Bank Canada reports Q1 profit down as it expects downturn to hurt loans

Local restaurants feel squeezed by delivery apps' commission fees

Restaurants struggling to survive during the COVID-19 crisis have turned to take-out and delivery, but the fees charged by food-delivery companies are eating away their bottom line, some operators say. Physical distancing measures have decimated dine-in service, which accounts for most industry revenue, said Mark von Schellwitz, a vice-president of the non-profit Restaurants Canada.

Local restaurants feel squeezed by delivery apps' commission fees

Ottawa helping guide, but not dictating, provincial reopening plans: Trudeau

With Canada's two most populous provinces poised to outline plans for a gradual return to normalcy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that Ottawa will help guide, but not dictate, how provinces and territories should start easing restrictions. Ontario and Quebec together account for more than 80 per cent of the country's COVID-19 cases.

Ottawa helping guide, but not dictating, provincial reopening plans: Trudeau

Crisis lines face volunteer, cash crunch even as COVID-19 drives surge in calls

Despite a surge in demand due to COVID-19, many distress centres across Canada are dangerously close to folding thanks to major declines in both volunteers and revenue. Stephanie MacKendrick, CEO of Crisis Services Canada, which runs the only national suicide-specific helpline in Canada, says her organization relies on a network of approximately 100 community distress centres across the country to field calls from people.

Crisis lines face volunteer, cash crunch even as COVID-19 drives surge in calls

Conservatives gear up to grill government in modified return of House of Commons propose and oppose: Tories

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer laid out Monday the numerous lines of inquiry his party intends to follow this week as a modified version of a House of Commons sitting gets underway. They include the state of the nation's emergency supply stockpile, the mishmash of federal economic benefit programs that allow some to fall through the cracks and to what extent the minority Liberals are backstopping provincial efforts to reopen their economies, Scheer said.