John McCallum dead at 75: A political veteran of ‘good humour and grace’

OTTAWA — John McCallum, a former Liberal cabinet minister and a mainstay of 21st century Canadian politics, has died at age 75, his family confirmed on Sunday.

A statement said McCallum passed away peacefully Saturday surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, their three sons and six grandchildren.

Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday called McCallum “an inspiration, a mentor, and a friend” in a statement marking his passing.

“John served Canada and academia with great distinction, helping us to find solutions to our biggest economic challenges, devoting his invaluable insights to the service of Canada’s democracy and diplomacy, and always doing so with good humour and grace,” Carney said in a post on the social media platform X.

McCallum’s career spanned decades of public service and private sector achievements, earning him respect from politicians on both sides of the aisle.

He was first elected to the House of Commons to represent the Greater-Toronto-Area riding of Markham in 2000 and went on to serve as a cabinet minister for three different Liberal prime ministers. His portfolios included national defence, veterans affairs and immigration, refugees and citizenship.

McCallum’s time in politics followed a career that included stints as chief economist at the Royal Bank of Canada and dean of arts at McGill University — he headed up the faculty at the same time his future boss, Justin Trudeau, was a student there.

The former prime minister issued a social media post on Sunday in which he called McCallum a “friend” who helped Canada navigate “some of its most challenging times.”

“I will never forget how as a cabinet minister he helped me as a new Prime Minister steer the government through the rapid resettlement of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees. He made it happen despite real challenges in an unpredictable time,” Trudeau said in a post on X.

McCallum was also Canada’s ambassador to China from 2017 to 2019, but resigned at Trudeau’s request after wading into controversies surrounding the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada.

McCallum’s 2019 comments to Chinese-language media in Canada appeared to offer credence to Wanzhou’s claims that the arrest was politically motivated, running counter to the Canadian government’s stated position at the time; he later said he “misspoke.”

Trudeau never offered a reason for McCallum’s dismissal.

Dominic LeBlanc, minister of intergovernmental affairs, recalled in a social media post starting his career on Parliament Hill at the same time as McCallum.

The pair were seatmates in the House of Commons, launching what would become a 25-year friendship that LeBlanc said he would always “cherish.”

“John served his country with intelligence, dedication, and kindness,” he said on X.

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner also took to X to share her memories of McCallum when she was the shadow minister to his immigration portfolio.

She said the pair formed “the best type of government / opposition relationship,” and though they did not necessarily like each other, they had mutual respect.

“John respected Parliament in a way few still serving understand. Tonight, I raise a glass to him. Rest well, John,” her post concluded.

Tim Hodgson, Canada’s energy minister and MP for Markham-Thornhill, issued a statement on social media marking McCallum’s legacy in the riding.

“He served with integrity, exemplifying the very best of Canadian values,” Hodgson wrote in a post on X.

“I hope to honour that legacy by serving the people of Markham–Thornhill with the same grace and dedication he brought to public life.”

His relatives said they remember him as “a loving and kind family man with a witty sense of humour.” They also thanked Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga, Ont., for his care.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2025.

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press