Richmond MLA John Yap will miss the start of spring session of the legislature after undergoing quintuple heart bypass surgery.
Yap, the three-term Liberal MLA for Richmond-Steveston, had the procedure on Dec. 17 after an angiogram revealed he had advanced coronary artery disease, said Liberal caucus spokesman Ben James.
He will miss the "opening weeks" of the legislative session in Victoria, said James. "He will resume full-duties once his recovery is complete and has been given the go-ahead by his doctors and specialists.
"His colleagues and caucus staff wish John a full and speedy recovery."
Yap most recently spearheaded the Liberal government's review of liquor policies, leading to popular changes in licensing, liquor sales in grocery stores, and the removal of beer garden fences at outdoor events.
He was forced to resign as multiculturalism minister in 2013 as part of the Liberal government's leaked ethnic outreach strategy, in which public resources were used to win votes in ethnic communities. An RCMP probe into that controversy continues.
The legislature resumes Feb. 10 and the budget will be tabled Feb. 17.
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