Marc
Garneau waves at the start of a virtual meeting from Ottawa on Feb. 26,
2021. Garneau, 74, announced Wednesday that he's resigning his seat in
the House of Commons. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Marc Garneau, a former cabinet minister and astronaut, is resigning his seat in the House of Commons, Radio-Canada confirmed Wednesday.
Garneau,
74, has represented the Quebec riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount,
formerly Westmount–Ville-Marie, as a Liberal since 2008. He served as
minister of transport in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government from
2015 to 2021, and then as minister of foreign affairs from January 2021
to October 2021.
WATCH | Marc Garneau delivers farwell speech in House of Commons
'Thank you and farewell': Marc Garneau resigns
Duration 7:44
Former cabinet minister Marc Garneau announces his resignation to the House of Commons after a 14 year career in politics.
During
his farewell speech in the House of Commons, Garneau thanked his
family, colleagues, staff, civil servants and parliamentary employees.
He reflected on his time in politics and challenged younger Canadians to safeguard democracy.
"Nothing
is perfect in this world but I like to think that I always did my best
to try and make it better," he said. "Although my gaze will remain on
the future — as it always has — I hope that you, the young people of
this country, will fashion that future and protect our democracy."
Garneau
made history in 1984 when he became the first Canadian to fly in space.
He later became deputy director of Canada's astronaut program.
Prior
to his career as an astronaut, he was a commissioned officer in the
Royal Canadian Navy, where he served from 1974 to 1989. He rose to the
rank of captain before retiring.
He was appointed a companion of the Order of Canada in 2003.
"I've
known and admired minister Garneau long before I came into
politics," Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, a
fellow Quebec MP, said in a media scrum Wednesday.
"He's a
Canadian who went to space, he has a long and accomplished career of
public service for Canada and Canadians, and I'll be eternally grateful
for everything he's done for all of us."
Garneau ran for the Liberal leadership in 2013, but withdrew from the race and supported eventual winner Justin Trudeau.
Garneau's
resignation would leave the House of Commons with five vacant seats.
Former interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen, who
represented Portage-Lisgar, Man., resigned from the House of Commons last month. The death of former cabinet minister Jim Carr last year
left a vacancy in another Manitoba riding, Winnipeg South Centre. The
Alberta riding of Calgary Heritage and the Ontario riding of Oxford are
also up for byelections later this year.
Oompa Loompa Doopity Doo I've got a resignation for you.
David Amos
Reply to Miguel Sanchez
Welcome to the circus
David Berg
Wonder if he was briefed while he was foreign affairs?
David Amos
Reply to David Berg
Lee Whitteker
I would have voted for Liberals if he had been put in as
leader. Somehow if that had been the case I doubt we'd be seeing what
we are now with the current debacle.
Erin Morriston
Reply to Lee Whitteker
China didn't want him to be PM.
Anne Mailis
Reply to Lee Whitteker
He's my MP and although I voted for him in 2015 I later
wrote asking him to resign and become independent. That was during the
SNC days. He doubled down supporting Trudeau. I'm sure the bromance
ended when he lost his cabinet position after the 2019 election.
Stuart Wozniak
Reply to Erin Morriston
That is the best comment. Let's put that as a message in a balloon and launch thousands of them.
Lee Whitteker
Reply to Anne Mailis
I was so disappointed to see the head bobbing by Mr.
Garneau. I did think he had more principles. Has he finally woken up?
David Amos
Reply to Lee Whitteker
Perhaps but doubt he will spill any beans
Evan White
Marc Garneau inspired a generation of young Canadians. I was one of them.
Thank you for your service the Canada and good luck, health and success for the future
Evan White
Reply to Evan White
*to
ted anderson
Reply to Evan White
He would have been a much better choice to lead the party and Canadians.
A uniter.
John Wilson
Reply to Evan White
Too bad he supported trudeau after his many scandals
David Amos
Reply to ted anderson
I concur
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to John Wilson
I concur
David Amos
Reply to John Wilson
Oh So True
David Webb
Reply to John Wilson
Party B4 country.
Eugene D Burles
Reply to David Webb
State before people.
David Michaels
A good man and an honest Liberal with integrity. A very rare breed these days.
David Berg
Reply to David Michaels
If he had integrity he wouldn’t have stuck it out this long.
Rudy Whelan
Reply to David Berg
Exactly
David Amos
Reply to Rudy Whelan
Ditto
valentina vivianao
More resignations to come.
Stay tuned.
David Amos
Reply to valentina vivianao
Of course
Ron Baxter
Why do the best politicians bail out, while the less qualified hang on and on?.
Ralph Tanner
Reply to Ron Baxter
ask PP
robin horlock
Reply to Ron Baxter
You need to ask little PP why he is still there
Blair Robertson
Reply to robin horlock
or the liberal who sits in the back row still wearing a mask. Too embarrassed to show their face
Nate Po
Reply to Ralph Tanner
Why the raging man crush on Poilievre?
David Amos
Reply to Nate Po
Good question
David Amos
Reply to Blair Robertson
Well put
Jon McDermitt
Hopefully his tell-all book will be published soon.
Ted Thompson
Reply to Jon McDermitt
The last 3 seem to have zero effect on the die hard liberal supporters.
Even when their own paint a bad picture, they refuse to acknowledge the facts.
David Amos
Reply to Jon McDermitt
Heres hoping
There is no hope for the diehard zealots. They'd vote for a broomstick if it got the Liberal nomination.
Ted Thompson
As minister of Foreign Affairs Garneau knew what was
going on with China and the interference. I'm sure he was told to do
nothing as it helped the liberals.
Seems a strange time to step down as soon as committees and the press are digging for answers.
"Delivered to the prime minister and several cabinet
members in a series of briefings and memos first presented in January,
the allegations included other detailed examples of Beijing’s efforts to
further its influence and, in turn, subvert Canada’s democratic
process, sources said."
I actually live in his riding. While he has done great
stuff on paper, never met or crossed the man once in all his years of
MP.
Called his riding office for help a few times, never got
a return call. Personally he was too comfortable, happy to see him go.
Doesn't mean I don't respect what he accomplished but as a local MP,
grade: F.
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