York Region extends condolences on passing of The Honourable Marc Garneau

On behalf of York Regional Council and The Regional Municipality of York, I extend deepest condolences to the family and friends of former federal cabinet minister, The Honourable Marc Garneau.

Mr. Garneau’s storied career started in the Canadian Navy, where he served from 1974 to 1989, and made history in 1984 as the first Canadian in space when he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. He continued his career contributing to international space exploration, flying on two additional missions in 1996 and 2000 and later serving as vice-president and president for the Canadian Space Agency in the early 2000s.

Mr. Garneau was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament in 2008, representing ridings in Montreal until his retirement in 2023. He held key cabinet positions throughout his political career, including Minister of Transport from 2015 to 2021 where he oversaw major transportation safety reforms, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development in 2021.

Mr. Garneau was a remarkable Canadian deeply rooted in community and family. He leaves behind a legacy of inspiring people through his contributions to the military, science and public service.

Eric Jolliffe
York Region Chairman and CEO

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