Close X
Friday, November 1, 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

Ex-employees sue Musk-run Tesla for mass layoffs

Ex-employees sue Musk-run Tesla for mass layoffs
The world's richest man said that the electric car-maker will cut salaries by 10 per cent over the next three months, as the company navigates the global macro-economic conditions. This would result in reducing Tesla's total headcount by roughly 3.5 per cent.

Ex-employees sue Musk-run Tesla for mass layoffs

Trucker Jaskirat Singh Sidhu deportation case could go to court for Broncos crash

Trucker Jaskirat Singh Sidhu deportation case could go to court for Broncos crash
The Canada Border Services Agency recommended in March that Jaskirat Singh Sidhu be handed over to the Immigration and Refugee Board to decide if he should be deported back to India.

Trucker Jaskirat Singh Sidhu deportation case could go to court for Broncos crash

Canadians confident in U.S., less in Biden: poll

Canadians confident in U.S., less in Biden: poll
In the Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday, only 61 per cent of Canadian respondents said they have confidence in President Joe Biden to do the right thing on the world stage — a steep decline from the 77 per cent who said the same thing in 2021.

Canadians confident in U.S., less in Biden: poll

Trudeau lands in Rwanda for Commonwealth summit

Trudeau lands in Rwanda for Commonwealth summit
Trudeau is in Kigali, the capital, where he will gather beginning Thursday with the heads of government from the other 53 countries in the Commonwealth for the first time since 2018.

Trudeau lands in Rwanda for Commonwealth summit

Hot spell for BC as of Friday, temps to spike into 30's

Hot spell for BC as of Friday, temps to spike into 30's
Special weather statements now cover the inner south coast, east to the Alberta boundary and north to Fort St. John, raising concerns that daytime heat and modest overnight cooling will rapidly melt still-heavy snowpacks, adding to flood risks.

Hot spell for BC as of Friday, temps to spike into 30's

PM heading to meetings in Rwanda, Germany, Spain

PM heading to meetings in Rwanda, Germany, Spain
He will first fly to Kigali, Rwanda, Tuesday night to meet with the heads of the Commonwealth nations for the first time since 2018. Canada is planning to promote support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia at the meetings. The trip also takes Trudeau to Germany for the G7 Summit and then on to Madrid for a NATO Summit.

PM heading to meetings in Rwanda, Germany, Spain