John McCallum, former Minister of the Liberal Cabinet and pillar of Canadian policy in the 21st century, died at 75, confirmed his family on Sunday.
A press release indicates that McCallum died peacefully on Saturday surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, their three sons and six grandchildren.
Prime Minister Mark Carney described McCallum “an inspiration, a mentor and a friend” in a statement marking his death.
“John served Canada and the academic world with a great distinction, helping us find solutions to our greatest economic challenges, devoting his invaluable ideas to the service of Canada’s democracy and diplomacy, and always with good humor and thanks,” said Carney in an article on the social media platform X.
McCallum’s career lasted decades of public service and private sector achievements, which earned him respect for politicians on both sides of the aisle.
He was first elected to the House of Commons to represent the rise of Markham to the Grande in the Toronto region in 2000 and continued to serve as a minister of the cabinet for three different liberal ministers. His portfolios included national defense, veterans and immigration, refugees and citizenship.
The time of McCallum in politics followed a career which included stays in chief economist at the Royal Bank of Canada and to the Dean of the Arts of McGill University – he led the faculty at the same time as his future boss, Justin Trudeau, was a student.
The former Prime Minister published an article on social networks on Sunday in which he described McCallum as “friend” who helped Canada sail “some of his most difficult times”.
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“I will never forget how, as the Minister of the Cabinet, he helped me as a new Prime Minister to direct the government by the rapid resettlement of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees. He did this happening despite real challenges in an unpredictable period,” said Trudeau in an article on X.
McCallum was also Canada’s ambassador to China from 2017 to 2019, but resigned at Trudeau’s request after fighting in the controversies surrounding the arrest of Huawei’s executive, Meng Wanzhou in Canada.
McCallum’s comments in 2019 in Chinese media in Canada seemed to offer credits to the statements of Wanzhou according to which the arrest was politically motivated, going against the declared position of the Canadian government at the time; He later said that he “ill -was sick”.
Trudeau has never offered a reason for the dismissal of McCallum.
Dominic Leblanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, recalls in an article on social networks which began his career on the hill of the Parliament at the same time as McCallum.
The couple were siege comrades in the House of Commons, launching what would become a 25 -year friendship that Leblanc said that he “would always cherish”.
“John served his country with information, dedication and kindness,” he said on X.
Conservative deputy Michelle Répel Garner also went to X to share her memories of McCallum when she was the Minister of Ghosts of her immigration portfolio.
She said that the pair had formed “the best type of government / opposition relationship”, and although they did not necessarily love each other, they had mutual respect.
“John respected Parliament in a way that few people still serve. Tonight, I raise a drink for him. Rest well, John,” concluded his post.
Tim Hodgson, Minister of Canada and MP of Markham-Thornhill, published a declaration on social media marking McCallum’s heritage in driving.
“He served with integrity, illustrating the best of Canadian values,” wrote Hodgson in an article on X.
“I hope to honor this inheritance by serving the inhabitants of Markham – trying with the same grace and the same dedication which he brought to public life.”
His relatives said they remembered him as “a loving and kind father with a sense of humor full of mind”. They also thanked the Credit Valley hospital in Mississauga, Ontario, for her care.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press