A Canadian has been shot in Thailand but is in stable condition in hospital, the victim's mother confirmed to CTV.ca on Wednesday.

Erik Griffioen, 49, was travelling with his wife, Elizabeth Ling, in an open taxi in Chiang Mai -- about 700 kilometres north of Bangkok -- when he was shot.

Johanna Griffioen, Erik's mother, said that Ling called her Wednesday morning.

"My daughter-in-law told me this morning that he was shot and there was a bullet in the abdomen," she told CTV.ca from Kitchener, Ont.

Doctors have removed the bullet, Ling told Johanna Griffioen.

"He's in the hospital and he apparently is comfortable," Griffioen said.

She said her son had been travelling on vacation with his wife. The pair was supposed to continue onto Africa for a conference Ling was to attend.

The couple now plan to return to Canada as soon as possible, said Johanna Griffioen.

Saisakul, the manager at the luxury hotel Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai, confirmed to CTV.ca that Griffioen and Ling had checked out Wednesday morning.

Saisakul, who only goes by her first name, said the couple had stayed for a few nights.

Bernard Nguyen, a spokesperson for foreign affairs, said the department knew about the shooting and had offered its services to the family.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is aware of the shooting of a Canadian citizen in Chiang Mai, Thailand," Nguyen told CTV.ca. "Our embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as our consulate in Chiang Mai, are in contact with local authorities and are offering consular assistance to the family.

"Because of the privacy act we can't share any more information."

Erik Griffioen is currently working as a specialist at a cancer clinic in Mississauga, Ont.

Two other Canadians have been shot in Thailand in recent months.

Earlier this month, 48-year-old Dale Henry, of Calgary, was shot and killed at his home in southern Thailand.

Hours later, police arrested Henry's Thai wife of six years, her lover and an alleged hit man in connection with the killing.

In January, Leo John Del Pinto, 24, died after he was reportedly shot in the face and chest by a plain-clothes police officer in Pai in northern Thailand.