Former Federal Liberal Minister John McCallum, who sat in Jean Chrétien’s offices, Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau, died on Saturday at the age of 75, surrounded by his relatives at Credit Valley hospital in Ontario.
It was his family who confirmed the news in a statement on Sunday.
“We thank the medical team at Credit Valley hospital for their careful care and their support during this event,” said. “For us, John was above all a loving and attentive father and husband, with a lively and full -minded humor,” added the family.
Economist, professor, politician and author, John McCallum has had strong expertise on budgetary and financial issues.
During his political career, which was laid out on nearly two decades, he was notably at the head of several ministries, including that of national defense under Jean Christian, those of veterans and national income in the cabinet of Paul Martin as well as that of immigration, refugees and citizenship under Justin Trudeau.
He then held the position of Canada Ambassador to China from March 2017 to January 2019.
“One of Canada’s biggest economists”
The former Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, quickly reacted to the news, notably recalling his first months in office in his company.
“I will never forget how, as a minister, he helped me, as a new Prime Minister, to lead the government in the rapid resettlement of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees,” he wrote on X. He made it happen despite real difficulties at an unpredictable era. “
For his part, the current Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, paid tribute to the “mentor, friend and source of inspiration”, that was Mr. McCallum.
“John served Canada and the university environment with great distinction. He helped us find solutions to our greatest economic challenges, and always did it with grace and good humor, “said Carney in a press release.
“Beyond politics, he has established himself as one of Canada’s greatest economists thanks to his ideas and analyzes. In his capacity as chief economist of the Royal Bank of Canada, he influenced national conversations on tax policy, growth and competitiveness. […] John believed that Canada was a place offering enormous possibilities and potential. He leaves his country and his country a lasting heritage thanks to his values of humility and service, ”he adds.
The Minister of Finance, François-Philippe Champagne, praised “a remarkable statesman” who knew how to “put his talent and his passion at the service of each function he held”, he said on X.
