Finance Minister Carole James said Thursday she has Parkinson’s disease.
She plans to carry on in her job for the time being but won’t run again.
She delivered the news backed up by about two dozen friends and colleagues in the legislature.
James said she noticed a slight hand tremor last summer and had a few moments where she had trouble with her balance.
She blamed the issues on fatigue, but her doctor referred her to a neurologist, who did a series of tests at the end of January and delivered the diagnosis.
James described Parkinson’s as a progressive neurological disease.
“It’s not a disease that anyone wants. But it is not a terminal diagnosis,” she said. “Symptoms generally develop slowly, and the progress of the disease varies from person to person. There’s no cure, but there are treatments and medications to deal with the symptoms as they arrive.”
She said she was sharing the news in order to be open about what she is facing.
“Between 10,000 and 13,000 people in B.C. live with Parkinson’s. Many of those people worry about stigma and what will happen if they reach out for support,” she said.
“If sharing my story can help others, that’s a good thing. As the symptoms of this very visible disease do surface, there is no need to hide them.
“For now, I have a manageable hand tremor and I’m more careful with my balance. I haven’t noticed any other symptoms and I don’t need to start medication yet.
She said she will carry on in her post as long as she can give 100 per cent to the job.
“I will serve out my term as member of the legislative assembly for Victoria-Beacon Hill. But I will not be running for re-election.”
Premier John Horgan was told in January about James’s diagnosis.
“I was upset and concerned for my colleague and my friend,” he said in a statement, adding that he was pleased that James would be able to continue her cabinet role.
“Parkinson’s is a tough disease,” he said. “Without diminishing the seriousness of the illness, Carole James is tougher. She has spent her entire public life fighting as hard as she can to make life better for people, and I know she will bring that spirit to this next challenge.”
He said his caucus is tremendously grateful to James for all that she has done, “and all she will continue to do as an integral part of our government.”
James has been finance minister and deputy premier since the NDP took power in 2017, and delivered her third provincial budget last month.
She was first elected as Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA in 2005 and won three subsequent elections.
Over three terms in Opposition she was the finance critic and critic for children and family development.
In 2003, James won the leadership of the NDP and served as leader outside the house before winning a seat in 2005. She was Oppostion leader from 2005 to 2010.
She was forced out of the post due to caucus unrest after the party lost the 2009 election.
