(Winnipeg) Manitoba politician Bill Blaikie, who spent nearly 30 years as a federal New Democratic Party (NDP) MP, has died.
Posted at 8:01 p.m.
His son, NDP Finance Critic Daniel Blaikie, released a statement on social media saying his father died Saturday at home with his wife, Brenda, present.
Earlier this month, Bill Blaikie publicly announced that he was entering hospice care.
“We thank everyone for their kind words and gestures over the past week since Bill publicly announced he was leaving for hospice care,” a family statement read.
“The pipers by the side of the street, the food, the flowers and especially the stories of how Bill inspired and entertained people over the years were a comfort to him and to us in his final days. »
Mr. Blaikie was first elected to the House of Commons in 1979, representing an NDP riding in Winnipeg, and at one point was the longest-serving member of the House of Commons.
He left Ottawa in 2008, won a seat in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly the following year and was named the province’s conservation minister before leaving politics in 2011.
The family statement says funeral details will follow over the next few days.
In a message of condolence to Blaikie’s family, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called the former MP a “giant” of the party.
“His unwavering commitment to social and economic justice, his legendary knowledge of parliament and his sense of humor will be missed by all of us,” Mr. Singh testified on social media.
“Rest in power Bill. »
Mr. Blaikie also served as an adjunct professor of theology at the University of Winnipeg.
He was voted “Parliamentarian of the Year” by his fellow MPs, largely due to his reputation as a hard worker who avoided partisan dirty tricks in debate.
In 2003, he lost his federal leadership bid to Jack Layton in a leadership race that pitted Mr. Layton and his hip new left against Mr. Blaikie and the traditional prairie populist wing. .
Mr. Blaikie ended his parliamentary career as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, explaining that he retired from federal politics because he did not want to continue commuting between Winnipeg and Ottawa.
His move into provincial politics caught many off guard, some party insiders noted at the time. He explained that he sought the nomination after former Manitoba NDP premier Gary Doer asked him to consider it when a member of Mr. Doer’s caucus resigned to run for Mr. Blaikie’s vacant federal seat.
Former NDP MP Pat Martin hailed Mr Blaikie as the first to raise the issue of climate change in the House of Commons in 1983.
Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew called Blaikie the “lion” of the party.
“He fought with passion, intelligence and faith for the workers of Transcona and across the country,” Wab Kinew said on Twitter.
“The Blaikie family have been so good to us, on behalf of our movement, we send you our deepest condolences. »