QUEBEC — Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis is leaving his cabinet duties temporarily after falling off a horse and suffering a concussion.
The Premier’s Office said in a press release Wednesday that Transport Minister Laurent Lessard will replace Paradis during his absence.
A spokesperson for Paradis, Laurence Lemieux, described the concussion as mild. “He’s been horseback riding for many years,” she told the Montreal Gazette. “There’s no reason to worry; it’s not something major.”
She said the accident happened this week and Paradis is currently resting. He was not hospitalized.
He does not know how long he will be absent, but may have a better idea once he sees his doctor again on Friday, Lemieux said.
The 66-year-old Paradis has represented the riding of Brome-Missisquoi since 1980. He was Environment Minister, Government House Leader, Municipal Affairs Minister and Labour Minister under Robert Bourassa, from 1985 to 1994.
He did not have a cabinet post when Jean Charest was premier, between 2003 and 2012.
He was named Agriculture Minister by Premier Philippe Couillard on April 23, 2014.
Paradis is the fourth Liberal minister since 2015 to take a temporary leave for health reasons.
Lise Thériault took some time off in the fall of 2015 after breaking down in tears at a news conference. Luc Fortin and Pierre Moreau also took medical leaves, with Moreau battling a severe infection in 2016.
All three have since returned to the National Assembly.
