CFAX 1070, November 12, 2008

A LOCAL PROVINCIAL POLITICIAN IS BACK AT WORK AFTER SURGERY FOR BLADDER CANCER

NDP MLA JOHN HORGAN SAYS HE RETURNED TO WORK ON MONDAY.

"IT FEELS LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS SINCE THE SURGERY. MY WIFE TELLS ME THAT I'M CRAZY, BUT I'M QUITE HAPPY TO BE BACK AT IT."

HE SAYS HIS SURGERY WENT WELL, BUT HIS ORDEAL IS NOT OVER YET.

"THE PATHOLOGY REPORT FROM THE SURGEON WAS VERY POSITIVE.  I HAVE SOME MORE TREATMENTS TO DO IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY SO I THOUGHT I'D TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FEELING GOOD AND GET BACK TO WORK FOR MY CONSTITUENTS."

AS A MEMBER OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, HORGAN SAYS HE WANTED TO GET BACK TO WORK SO HE WOULDN'T MISS OUT ON THE COMMITTEE'S FINAL REPORT TO INFORM GOVERNMENT ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

HORGAN SAYS HIS BOUT WITH CANCER HAS REMINDED HIM THAT EVERYONE ONLY GETS ONE SHOT AT LIFE SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT.

"I LOVE THE JOB.  I LOVE THE WORK.  YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT, AND THAT BECAME CRYSTAL CLEAR FOR ME A FEW WEEKS AGO.  SO, IF I'M ONLY HERE FOR A SHORT TIME, OR I'M HERE FOR A LONG TIME, I WANT TO MAXIMIZE MY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO MY FAMILY."

AS FOR MAKING A FULL RECOVERY, HORGAN SAYS HE IS FEELING GOOD AND HE SAYS HIS DOCTORS ARE OPTIMISTIC.

- ADAM STIRLING / RYAN PRICE