John McCallum, a former federal cabinet minister and prominent figure in 21st-century Canadian politics, has died at the age of 75, his family confirmed Sunday.
In a statement, the family said McCallum passed away peacefully on Saturday, surrounded by loved ones. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, their three sons, and six grandchildren.
Prime Minister Mark Carney paid tribute to McCallum, calling him “an inspiration, a mentor, and a friend.”
“John served Canada and academia with great distinction, helping us to find solutions to our biggest economic challenges,” Carney said on X (formerly Twitter). “He devoted his insights to the service of Canada’s democracy and diplomacy — always with good humour and grace.”
McCallum’s decades-long career in public service and the private sector earned him wide respect across political lines. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2000, representing the Greater Toronto Area riding of Markham, and went on to serve in cabinet under three Liberal prime ministers.
His key ministerial roles included:
- Minister of National Defence
- Minister of Veterans Affairs
- Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Prior to entering politics, McCallum was chief economist at the Royal Bank of Canada and served as dean of arts at McGill University — where he overlapped with a young Justin Trudeau, then a student.
Former Prime Minister Trudeau also paid tribute to McCallum, describing him as a “friend” who guided Canada through “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,” Trudeau wrote on X. “He made it happen despite real challenges in an unpredictable time.”