Former federal minister Marc Lalonde, who held various positions under former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, has died at the age of 93, several media report.
It is “a great leader” who died, reacted on social networks the current member for Outremont in the House of Commons, Rachel Bendayan, who mourns the loss of a “great friend”. “Thank you dear Marc Lalonde for all you have done for our community and our country,” she added on Twitter.
A lawyer by training, Marc Lalonde first practiced law in Montreal, his hometown, before entering the political arena, first as a special adviser to Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson in 1967. The year Next, he became principal secretary to Pierre Elliott Trudeau, whom he would follow throughout his political career.
Experienced Minister
Thus, in 1972, Marc Lalonde was elected for the first time to Parliament as Member of Parliament for Outremont. He subsequently accumulated many positions, including that of Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, which enabled him to establish the National Energy Program in 1980, which aims to enable the country to achieve oil self-sufficiency. and gas. This measure then raised a wave of criticism in Alberta, the main oil-producing province in the country.
Marc Lalonde was also at the head of the departments of Health and Social Welfare, Federal-Provincial Relations, Justice and Finance, from 1982 to 1984.
“I learn with sadness that a great servant of Canada, of the State has left us. Marc Lalonde left us. He embodied the perfect definition of a political lieutenant in a government, ”reacted former Liberal minister Denis Coderre, who was also mayor of Montreal, on Sunday. “A minister with heart and courage,” wrote former Liberal minister Sheila Copps.
“Mr. Lalonde has dedicated his life to improving the lives of Canadians by defending minority rights and strengthening our public health care system. Thank you for everything you have done for our country,” wrote Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
After leaving politics in 1984, Marc Lalonde returned to the private sector to work as a lawyer with Stikeman Elliott, where he specialized in international commercial arbitration. In 1989, he was admitted to the Order of Canada.