A humble public servant with a sense of humour is how many former colleagues as well as his family are remembering ex-Liberal cabinet minister John McCallum who died on June 21, aged 75.

McCallum’s family announced his death in a press release, thanking the medical team at Mississauga’s “Credit Valley Hospital who provided care and support during this difficult time.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney called McCallum “an inspiration, a mentor, and a friend,” whose “contributions to Canada were as deep as they were diverse.”

Prior to politics, McCallum was dean of McGill University’s arts faculty, and was the Royal Bank of Canada’s chief economist from 1994 to 2000. He was first elected as Liberal MP for the riding of Markham, Ont., in 2000, and sat in the House until 2017. During that time, he served as Jean Chrétien’s defence minister, Paul Martin’s veterans affairs minister and later national revenue minister, and in Justin Trudeau’s first cabinet as immigration minister before he was appointed as ambassador to China from 2017 to 2019.

McCallum’s former cabinet colleague Stéphane Dion called him a “personal friend” who “was one of the most inventive minds I have ever known.”

Energy Minister Tim Hodgson offered his condolences, saying “I hope to honour that legacy by serving the people of Markham–Thornhill with the same grace and dedication he brought to public life.”

Ex-Liberal MP Marwan Tabbara shared his memory of McCallum on social media on June 23, writing, “As a rookie MP, John gave me words of advice that I will never forget and hold dear. Honoured to serve with him on Immigration Committee.”

Former Conservative MPs also shared their memories of McCallum following the news of his death: “While I often crossed swords with John McCallum, I had respect for his service to Canada. John stepped up to help Afghan interpreters when their plight was being ignored and he made a real impact,” posted former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole on X on June 22. “I remember your sense of humour in Parliament,” said Rona Ambrose on X.

NCC shares Parliamentary Precinct vision in updated plan

Trams on Wellington Street, a new building next to the current Senate, and the “transformation” of 24 Sussex Dr. are a few of the National Capital Commission’s recommendations in its updated Core Area Plan published last week.

The plan is one of many items the NCC’s board of directors approved at its June 19 public meeting, including the design of the National Monument to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan, set for construction in LeBreton Flats, as well as the 50-per-cent schematic design for the Parliamentary Precinct’s new Block 2—comprising Wellington, Metcalfe, O’Connor, and Sparks streets—complex, which “will provide office space for Parliament and retail space for the public. The next major milestone is the 100 per cent developed design,” the NCC posted on X on June 19.

The Core Area Plan includes the NCC’s “long-term intentions and broad policy directions” for the precinct and other central areas. Among the items on the NCC’s wish list is to “integrate tram-based public transit, cycling and civic spaces into a high-quality Confederation Boulevard streetscape environment” along Wellington Street. It also wants to save the vacant land on Wellington Street between the Justice Building and the Supreme Court “for a future landmark building to complete the Judicial Triad.”

Meanwhile, on the east end of Wellington where it turns into Rideau Street, the agency hopes to “pursue adaptive and public-facing use for the current Senate of Canada Building including a possible new building with active frontage towards the Rideau-Sussex node.” 

The NCC also noted its general vision for 24 Sussex Dr.— which lies outside of the precinct, but is of interest to Parliament—recommending the “renewal and possible transformation of the official residence for the prime minister of Canada.”

Sayonara to Senator Seidman

“Her achievements are many. Her expertise is impressive,” said ISG Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain last week of Conservative Senator Judith Seidman who is set to retire on Sept. 1 during the summer recess.

Conservative Senate Leader Leo Housakos praised the former epidemiologist who’s “served on almost every committee in this chamber.” He noted her “ardent” defence of “minority language rights for the English community in Quebec and for the French community outside of Quebec.” 

Both Housakos and Government Representative in the Senate Marc Gold thanked Seidman for her friendship: “You have been somebody whom I have relied upon when I needed to vent a little bit,” said Gold. Colleagues noted the 2019 book Seidman and then-senator Serge Joyal wrote for the Senate’s 150^th anniversary, Reflecting on Our Past and Embracing Our Future. “Imagine that: A Liberal and a Conservative working together on a common project. It truly is something beautiful,” remarked CSG Senator Scott Tanas.

In her words of thanks to her colleagues, her staff, and family, Seidman recalled how being on the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying was “one of the most intellectually and emotionally challenging that I have faced as a parliamentarian.”

“How fortunate we are to have the gift of time in our work here, to be able to think big picture and to act on big issues confronting our country,” she said.

A handful of public service promotions

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced changes to the public service’s senior ranks on June 20.

On June 30, Privy Council Office deputy secretary Mollie Johnson will succeed Jean-François Tremblay as deputy minister of Environment and Climate Change. Tremblay will move to PCO this summer in anticipation of his upcoming role as ambassador to the OECD, according to the press release.

The Public Health Agency’s executive vice-president Nancy Hamzawi has been promoted to full president following the recent retirement of Heather Jeffrey. Hamzawi started her new role on June 20.

And following associate deputy minister of finance Suzy McDonald’s departure, Alison O’Leary will step into the role on June 30. O’Leary is currently the department’s assistant deputy minister for Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy.

Carney also noted that associate deputy minister of Fisheries and Oceans Kaili Levesque will “provide direct support” to the Secretary of State for Nature Nathalie Provost; and that PCO’s Mark Schaan, deputy secretary to the Cabinet (Artificial Intelligence), will do the same for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon.

Ottawa lawyer Shore in CBC’s Air India bombing film

The CBC released Two Suitcases: The Anatomy of the Air India Bombing on June 18, a documentary marking the 40^th anniversary of the bombing of Air India Flight 182, still known as Canada’s “worst act of terrorism.”

Narrated by Ian Hanomansing, this 44-minute-long documentary looks into the tragedy, the investigation, and the inquiry that followed. Gowlings’ lawyer Jacques Shore appears in the film. He was counsel to the Air India Families Association. “There wasn’t a day where I wouldn’t walk into our hearing of the inquiry thinking about the 329 victims on that flight,” he said in Two Suitcases. “During the inquiry it was obvious that the RCMP and CSIS were not working well together.”

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The Hill Times