Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne, 49, is in hospital in Saint John for cardiac surgery later this week. (Government of New Brunswick)

Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne is in Saint John Regional Hospital and will have cardiac surgery later this week, according to the Office of the Premier.

A brief statement released Tuesday afternoon said the Fredericton-area Liberal MLA and cabinet minister is expected to make a full recovery.

Carl Davies, a government spokesperson, said Byrne did not have a heart attack but had been experiencing some discomfort in recent weeks. Physicians decided that surgery was the best option for the cabinet minister.

Davies said it is doubtful that Byrne, 49, will be back in the legislative assembly during the spring sitting.

Premier Shawn Graham announced Tuesday that Energy Minister Jack Keir will take over Byrne's responsibilities at the Department of Business New Brunswick, the Population Growth Secretariat, Service New Brunswick and Communications New Brunswick.

As well, Education Minister Kelly Lamrock is taking over the Erin Walsh file, which Byrne took on after Justice Minister T.J. Burke was accused of commenting on the case at a student function at the University of New Brunswick.

Byrne was first elected as a Liberal MLA in 1995. He served in different departments, including minister of justice and mines.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Liberal leadership after Frank McKenna retired from politics and then lost his re-election bid in 1999.

Byrne was elected in 2006 in the new riding of Fredericton-Lincoln.