Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Hunter Tootoo has resigned, according to a statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

鈥淢r. Tootoo will be taking time to seek treatment for addiction issues,鈥� Trudeau said in the statement, without any further comments.

Sources told 麻豆传媒 there was an incident at the Liberal convention in Winnipeg this past weekend, which was serious enough that Tootoo is also leaving the party鈥檚 caucus.

House leader Dominic Leblanc has assumed Tootoo鈥檚 portfolio, according to the prime minister.

Tootoo also issued a brief statement saying he is 鈥渟tepping down as a member of the Liberal caucus in order to not distract from the important work of my colleagues.鈥�

鈥淚 have decided to seek treatment for addiction issues and ask for privacy,鈥� he said.

Tootoo was born in Rankin Inlet to a Jewish mother and Inuk father.

Before entering politics, he was businessman and co-founder of the Iqaluit branch of Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Tootoo tried unsuccessfully to win a federal seat in 1997 as a New Democrat. He went on to serve in the territorial legislature from 1999 to 2015, when he managed to wrest the federal riding of Nunavut from Conservative minister Leona Aglukkaq.

Tootoo is cousin of Jordin Tootoo, a forward for the New Jersey Devils.

He is not the first member of the Trudeau government to seek help for a substance abuse issue. Rookie MP and former TV host Seamus O鈥橰egan said in January that he had entered a wellness program with the goal of an 鈥渁lcohol-free lifestyle.鈥�

When O'Regan sought help, on Twitter that his 鈥渢houghts are with my friend & colleague鈥� and he has my full support.鈥�