Cariboo-Prince George MP Doherty returns to House of Commons

Mar 19, 2018 | 12:15 PM

OTTAWA — Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty returned to the House of Commons today, two months after a gallbladder attack nearly took his life.

The Conservative MP fell ill on January 20 in Prince George.

Doherty actually stopped breathing during emergency surgery to remove his gallbladder, and his major organs began shutting down.

Rising in the House of Commons in Ottawa today, Doherty said a heartfelt thank-you.

This is a transcript of Doherty’s address:

“To my team, to my friends and colleagues from all sides of this house, and indeed, from across the nation, I want to say ‘thank-you.’ Your words of encouragement, your cards, your fruit baskets, your flowers have meant more to me and my family than you may ever know.”

“To the doctors and nurses at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, I’m thankful. I’m thankful for all the work that they do. And Mister Speaker, I’ve seen the conditions that the men and women work in, and Mister Speaker, we can do better for them.”

“To my colleagues. We lead busy lives. It is easy to lose site of what is most important. The work we do here in this house and in our ridings has meaning. Every meeting, every speech, every event, every text, every call. It is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind, but without our health, we have nothing. So stop, take time to reflect, and above all else, please, please take care of yourself.”

“And in closing, to my wife Kelly and my entire family, your strength when faced with the unimaginable is simply amazing. Thank-you for your patience, your love and your support. Words cannot express my love for you.”