Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. politician Ian Waddell dies at 78

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Mar, 2021 04:46 PM
  • B.C. politician Ian Waddell dies at 78

Federal and provincial leaders are among those offering condolences at the passing of long-serving British Columbia politician Ian Waddell.

The former lawyer, New Democrat member of Parliament and member of the B.C. legislature died Monday at his Vancouver home at the age of 78.

B.C. Premier John Horgan says in a social media post that Waddell approached everything with a "passion and desire to make progress for people," while federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says Waddell was a champion of social justice who always lifted up those around him.

p>Waddell earned law degrees from the University of Toronto and London School of Economics and worked as a prosecutor, defence lawyer and council to the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry before making a successful jump to federal politics.

Waddell served 14 years as an New Democrat MP, representing the ridings of Vancouver-Kingsway and Port Moody-Coquitlam, before turning to provincial politics from 1996 to 2001.

After losing provincially in 2001 and suffering defeat in an attempted federal comeback in 2004, Waddell worked as a documentary film producer.

Social media posts show him working out, skiing and golfing with friends in the weeks before his death.

He maintained an interest in politics with recent Twitter posts remarking on passage of the United States' COVID relief plan and the 2020 presidential election.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also on the receiving end of Waddell's online advice in a message dated Jan. 25.

"My choice for new Governor General is Judge Murray Sinclair. Are you listening Justin," he tweeted.

In his last message, one day before he died, Waddell posted a photo from the balcony of his Vancouver home, with Stanley Park and the Coast Mountains in the distance.

His final sentence: "Paradise."

MORE National ARTICLES

MPs vote to summon Kielburger brothers to testify

MPs vote to summon Kielburger brothers to testify
The charity said it would therefore decline the requests to testify. Monday's motion was originally put forward by the Conservatives, and amended by the NDP to set a deadline of Friday.

MPs vote to summon Kielburger brothers to testify

B.C. gets 1.7 million calls as vaccine lines open

B.C. gets 1.7 million calls as vaccine lines open
Dix says the "enormous" response today reflects the significant support for vaccination in the province.

B.C. gets 1.7 million calls as vaccine lines open

Committee expands probe into military misconduct

Committee expands probe into military misconduct
The committee members will also ask Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan back to clarify what opposition members say are contradictions between his testimony and that of former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne.

Committee expands probe into military misconduct

Canada set to receive 910K vaccine doses this week

Canada set to receive 910K vaccine doses this week
The remaining 465,000 shots are expected from Moderna, as the pharmaceutical firm steps up its delivery schedule from once every three weeks to once every two.

Canada set to receive 910K vaccine doses this week

Low-wage women hit hardest by COVID-19: report

Low-wage women hit hardest by COVID-19: report
Employment among women remains about 5.3 per cent below where it sat in February 2020 just before the first wave of COVID-19, compared to about 3.7 per cent for men.

Low-wage women hit hardest by COVID-19: report

Don't let COVID-19 undo progress for women: PM

Don't let COVID-19 undo progress for women: PM
The prime minister says politicians should listen to the voices of women, not only when it comes to economic recovery but also on fighting systemic racism, climate change and gender-based violence.

Don't let COVID-19 undo progress for women: PM