Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada's former foreign minister Bill Graham dies

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Aug, 2022 02:53 PM
  • Canada's former foreign minister Bill Graham dies

OTTAWA - Bill Graham, who served as foreign affairs minister when Canada decided against joining the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, has died.

Former Liberal MP John English told The Canadian Press that Graham died Sunday, according to a member of his family who shared the news with him earlier today.

Graham was first elected as a Liberal member of Parliament for the riding then known as Toronto Centre-Rosedale in 1993, after two unsuccessful runs.

“He was (an) immensely smart, decent, classy man," said former Liberal MP John McKay.

"I describe Bill as a complete politician: A good constituency person, a good national person and a good international person. Not many people can say that.”

In January 2002, months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks shook the world, Graham was appointed to serve as foreign affairs minister by then-prime minister Jean Chrétien.

At that time, Canada had to decide whether to join the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and then navigate its relationship with its closest ally when it opted against doing so.

Graham was roundly praised for not only assisting in that decision, but his overall handling of the role at a turbulent time in international relations.

John Baird, who served as foreign affairs minister under former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper praised Graham while expressing grief over his passing.

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra offered his condolances over Graham's demise.

After his time in foreign affairs, Graham was moved to minister of national defence.

Eugene Lang was his chief of staff at the time and said he was well-liked by most everyone, including MPs of different political stripes.

Lang said while Graham was only in the role of national defence minister for less than two years, he had many accomplishments, including the recommended appointment of Rick Hillier as chief of defence staff.

After the Liberals lost government to the Conservatives in 2006 and former prime minister Paul Martin resigned, Graham stepped into the role of the party's interim leader.

“The Liberal party owes him a huge debt of gratitude," said McKay, who recalled Graham being an obvious choice for many.

MORE National ARTICLES

Value of random COVID travel tests questioned

Value of random COVID travel tests questioned
The government put a pause on random testing at airports in June as long customs delays caused chaos at Canada's airports, but relaunched the program on Tuesday at four major airports: Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal. Randomly selected air travellers at those four airports must now report to off-site locations to be tested for COVID-19 or pick up a self-swab kit.  

Value of random COVID travel tests questioned

Canada confirms 604 cases of monkeypox

Canada confirms 604 cases of monkeypox
The cases included 320 from Quebec, 230 from Ontario, 40 from British Columbia, 12 from Alberta and two from Saskatchewan. The Canadian federal government said on Wednesday that it will fund to support community-based organisations in addressing monkeypox.

Canada confirms 604 cases of monkeypox

B.C. attorney general Eby announces leadership bid

B.C. attorney general Eby announces leadership bid
Eby's announcement ends weeks of speculation as other high-profile New Democrats have bowed out of this fall's leadership election, with the winner set to be announced on Dec. 3. Premier John Horgan announced last month he would resign due to health reasons, following two bouts with cancer, paving the way for a new leader.

B.C. attorney general Eby announces leadership bid

Parole hearing for truck driver in Broncos crash

Parole hearing for truck driver in Broncos crash
Sidhu went through a stop sign at a rural Saskatchewan intersection and drove into the path of the junior hockey team's bus as it was on its way to a playoff game. Sidhu, who has been serving his sentence at a prison in Bowden, Alta., is asking to be released pending possible deportation.  

Parole hearing for truck driver in Broncos crash

B.C. residents warned to prepare for hot spell

B.C. residents warned to prepare for hot spell
Environment Canada says heat in the mid- to high 20s should reach the south coast and parts of the northern Interior by next week, while the Okanagan, central and southeastern B.C. could see temperatures nudging the high 30s over the same period.

B.C. residents warned to prepare for hot spell

2 car collision in Vancouver leaves 5 year old girl badly injured

2 car collision in Vancouver leaves 5 year old girl badly injured
The girl was standing on the sidewalk with her father and siblings when two cars collided in the intersection of Cornwall Avenue and Arbutus Street around 11 a.m. The vehicles then mounted the sidewalk and struck the girl. There were no other life-threatening injuries.

2 car collision in Vancouver leaves 5 year old girl badly injured