Honourable Marc Lalonde R.I.P.

LALONDE, The Honourable Marc PC, OC, KC
July 26, 1929 – May 6, 2023
Marc Lalonde died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on May 6, 2023. He was 93 years old. Dear husband for 67 years of Claire (nee Tétreau); and father to Marie Pascale (Benoît Laurin), Luc (Mariette Brodeur), Paul (Magda Nicola), and Catherine (Guy Larochelle). Grandfather to Marc-Henri, Frédéric, Antoine, Marianne, Pascal, Viviane, Claire, Yonas, Jean-François and Louis, great-grandfather to Justin, Olivier, Théo, Édouard and Laurence; and beloved uncle and great-uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Marcel and sister Yolande and will be missed by his brother Claude and his sister Hélène. Born on a farm in Ile Perrot, Quebec, he lived most of his life in Montreal before returning to his family’s beloved ancestral home where he never once failed to plant and tend a flourishing garden. His dahlias and tomatoes were legendary.
He started his educational journey in a one-room schoolhouse on Ile Perrot. He completed his cours classique at Collège Saint-Laurent, then obtained a masters of law from the Université de Montréal, a master’s degree from Oxford University, and a Diplôme d’études supérieures en droit (D.E.S.D) from the University of Ottawa. He was a driving force in the Jeunesse étudiante catholique and Cité libre in the 1950’s. In 1959, he worked in Ottawa as a special advisor to Progressive Conservative Justice Minister Davie Fulton. He then practiced law in Montreal until 1967, when he returned to Ottawa to work with Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. From 1968 to 1972, he was Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. He was elected as Member of Parliament for the riding of Outremont in 1972 and then re-elected three more times. From 1972 to 1984, he served as Minister of National Health and Welfare, Minister of Amateur Sport, Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minster of Energy Mines and Resources, Minister of Federal Provincial Relations and Minister of Finance.
After retiring from elected office in 1984, he returned to the practice of law with Stikeman Elliott in Montreal where he was partner then counsel until 2006 and where he won accolades as one of the World’s most respected international arbitrators. He continued to practice as an independent arbitrator until he was ninety.
He was an avid fly fisherman, tennis and squash player, he loved skiing, being on Lac Saint-Louis, especially on his Laser sail boat with the mast humming in a stiff breeze. He was equally comfortable in the fishing camp, the board room, the halls of academia and presidential palaces. He travelled the world but never forgot his roots and was never happier than in his old house, hosting big groups of family and friends.
The family will receive condolences on Wednesday May 24 and Thursday May 25, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Urgel Bourgie Funeral Home, 1255 ave. Beaumont, Town of Mount Royal, H3P 3J1.
The funeral will take place on Friday May 26, 2023 at 2 p.m. at the Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal church on 1 Rue de l’Église, Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, J7W 1G8.

Pierre Trudeau’s right hand man Marc Lalonde has died at 93
It was as the Liberals’ energy and resources minister that Lalonde made his mark, with the National Energy Program.
(Canadian Press) Elected for the first time in 1972 in the federal riding of Outremont, Lalonde was already familiar with the mechanics of power, having worked as principal secretary for prime ministers Lester B. Pearson and the elder Trudeau.
Born the son of a farmer in Île-Perrot, Lalonde studied law in Montreal and then at Oxford. His education was marked by the Action catholique movement, where many future leaders were active and discussed the future of Quebec prior to the Quiet Revolution.
His aquiline profile and serious demeanour projected the image of a serious and rigorous personality.

Statement by the Prime Minister on the passing of the Honourable Marc Lalonde
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the death of the Honourable Marc Lalonde:
“Today, it is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of the Honourable Marc Lalonde, a giant of Canadian politics.
“Marc was so many things, but above all, he was a proud Canadian – and he exemplified it. First elected in 1972 as the Member of Parliament for Outremont and then appointed Minister of National Health and Welfare, he helped shape the Canada we love today by transforming the way we think about health. He published a groundbreaking report, later dubbed the “Lalonde Report,” which recognized that promoting good health meant promoting healthy lifestyles and environments too – a now widely-accepted idea that has changed and saved lives here in Canada and around the world. Marc also served in a number of other cabinet positions, including finance, justice, sport, and status of women, where his deep commitment to the well-being of Canadians and people around the world continued to shine through.
… “On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to Marc’s family and friends. His legacy to Canada is impossible to overstate.”

Campaigned for Schiefke in 2019 election
Former federal Liberal minister Marc Lalonde passes away at 93
Lalonde did not run for reelection in 1984 but stayed active in federal politics and became a lobbyist. More recently, he was the honorary chairman of the federal Liberal campaign committee for the riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and in 2019 campaigned for the reelection of federal Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Schiefke.
Schiefke took to social media to post a final personal tribute to Lalonde. “It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that our dear friend and cherished member of our community, the Honorable Marc Lalonde, passed away this weekend at the age of 93. He was an outstanding Canadian statesman, dedicated lawyer and public policy maker,” said Schiefke.
“Born in L’Île-Perrot in 1929, Marc left an indelible mark on Canadian history that will never be forgotten. A brilliant scholar and a steadfast advocate for equity, social justice and Canadian unity, Marc has had a profound impact on countless lives”, Schiefke continued.
“It was an honor for me to call this extraordinary intellectual and politician both a mentor and a friend. By remembering and celebrating Marc’s incredible life, we take with us his lasting legacy. On behalf of my family and all residents of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, I offer my most sincere condolences to his wife Claire and his entire family. Rest in peace, Marc Lalonde,” concluded Schiefke.