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QUEBEC - Claude Bechard, a youthful Quebec cabinet minister who soldiered on in his post despite suffering from terminal cancer, died Tuesday at the age of 41.
The death, which was confirmed by his office, came just several hours after Bechard announced he was leaving politics, marking the end of a once-promising career that was swiftly ravaged by illness.
Bechard was until recently seen as a potential successor to Premier Jean Charest.
Just hours before the death was announced, the premier choked back tears at a news conference where he paid tribute to his colleague and expressed his hope for a medical miracle.
"Claude Bechard was elected in 1997, a very young MNA in the national assembly, has had an extraordinary career and is young and energetic and very determined and loved politics very deeply and I think politics loved him."
The premier said Bechard became a very good friend, beginning when Charest arrived as party leader in 1998.
"He was young, he had an extraordinary sense of humour and he had a very lively mind and was extremely bright, very versatile.
"He was the kind of minister in a government who was able to accomplish several types of responsibilities. .he could be a troubleshooter when needed . someone who could go in and fix things and get them back on track."
Charest said he didn't want Bechard to come back to work earlier this year.
"When he returned, I had very real apprehensions about him returning, sometimes I felt I was the only one.
"He felt so strongly about coming back in the last few months and being with his colleagues. . politics was his life, it was what he felt the most strongly about. His extended family was there."
Bechard discovered in 2008 he had pancreatic cancer and learned earlier this year that tumours had spread to his intestines.
He held a variety of senior cabinet positions; he was most recently minister of agriculture and intergovernmental affairs.
A frail-looking Bechard made an emotional return to the national assembly this past June after an extended absence, and announced plans to continue working for as long as he could.
On the day he returned, he received a thunderous ovation from political allies and opponents alike.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Bechard thanked the men and women of his riding, calling it a privilege to represent them in the legislature. He was elected five times, beginning in 1997. Bechard also thanked Quebecers for their kind messages in recent months.
"I also and especially want to thank the premier, my friend, Mr. Jean Charest, who always had faith in me and with whom it was a great honour and a real pleasure to serve the people of Quebec," Bechard said in the statement.
