Hugh Segal, former senator and chief of staff to PM Mulroney, dead at 72

Hugh Segal, a prominent figure in Canadian politics for more than five decades, died on Wednesday. He was 72.

Segal's career included public service as chief of staff to prime minister Brian Mulroney and Ontario premier Bill Davis, as a senator and most recently as principal of the University of Toronto's Massey College. He also worked as a columnist, author and pundit.

"It is with great sadness that we share the news of Hugh's passing. A loving husband to Donna and doting father to Jacqueline, Hugh passed away yesterday evening in Kingston, Ontario, surrounded by family," Segal's family said in a statement.

"We are deeply touched by the condolences we are receiving from Hugh's many friends near and far and fellow political and public policy warriors of all partisan stripes. We take comfort in your stories of his service to Canada and all Canadians, his commitment to decency in our politics, and his laugh. We thank you for loving Hugh as much as we do."

Segal was born in Montreal in 1950 and got involved in politics from a young age. At 21, he was the Progressive Conservative candidate in Ottawa Centre in the 1972 general election, and was the PC candidate again in the 1974 election.

Segal served as an aide to Progressive Conservative leader Robert Stanfield, and later as an aide to Ontario premier Bill Davis. He would become Davis's chief of staff and, from 1992 to 1993, was chief of staff to Mulroney. He ran for leadership of the Progressive Conservatives in 1998, finishing second to Joe Clark.

Though Segal was a Conservative, Liberal prime minister Paul Martin appointed him to the Senate in 2005. Segal served as chair of the Senate committee on foreign affairs and international trade, among other roles.

Segal retired from the upper chamber in 2014, 12 years before his mandatory retirement date, to become the head of Massey College. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2003, then an officer in 2016.

He wrote many books and columns on Canadian politics and public policy throughout his career, and was a longtime resident of Kingston, Ont.

Mulroney remembers a friend

In an interview with CBC News Network, Mulroney called Segal "a particularly great man who served Canada well," and "as fine a Canadian citizen as you'll ever find."

Mulroney said he'll always remember Segal's big smile at early morning meetings and his sense of humour.

"He loved his wife, he loved his daughter, and he loved Canada. That was the triangle that motivated him, and around which he worked all the time," Mulroney told host Hannah Thibedeau.

But outside of that work, Mulroney said Segal loved Kingston, and he was always looking to get out of Ottawa and spend more time in his favourite city.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney pictured on January 16, 2020. Mulroney said his former chief of staff Hugh Segal was "as fine a Canadian citizen as you'll ever find." (Paul Daly/The Canadian Press)

Mulroney added Segal was skilled at working with other political parties.

"He always felt that the only way you got big things done in Ottawa and in Canada was through multiparty co-operation," Mulroney said.

"I used to say he had the patience of a gardener, because he'd work slowly and kindly with the opponents ... He was a wonderful human being and it was a great privilege, a high privilege for me to know him as well as I did and to work with him."

Canadian politics mourns

Segal was respected across party lines. Many have posted tributes to him on social media following news of his passing.

"Hugh Segal cared deeply about our country. He dedicated his life to public service. And he brought people together," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Canada is a better place because of him. I'm sending my deepest condolences to his loved ones, and everyone who is mourning this loss."

"Hugh Segal was a great Canadian. Thoughtful, wise and ever cheerful, he will always be remembered as the happy warrior who dedicated his life to serving Canada," Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in an X post.

"My deepest condolences to his family, friends and all who will miss him."

"Hugh Segal was a great Canadian. During my government, he served honourably in the Senate and stood up forcefully for Canadian values as my Commonwealth emissary," former prime minister Stephen Harper said in a post on X.

"Laureen and I send our deepest condolences to Donna and their family."

"I first met Hugh Segal as a cadet at the RMC and was struck by his intellect and deep affection for Canada and its institutions, especially the military. It is why I supported him when he ran," former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole said on X. "A true Happy Warrior of #cdnpoli who will be missed."

"Hugh Segal was an extraordinary Canadian, always committed to the highest standards and the best for Canada. I always looked forward to his advice and counsel," wrote former Liberal cabinet minister Ralph Goodale, now Canada's high commissioner in the U.K.

"He gave both generously — they were unfailingly of great value. Condolences to his loved ones and a legion of admirers."

"I first met Hugh Segal when I was at Cdn Policy Research Networks. He supported the nat'l dialogue project I was working on. Always curious, he took the time to ask this then-20-something policy wonk where I thought our country was headed," Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said on X.

"A class act. He'll be missed."

Anita Anand, president of the Treasury Board, wrote that Segal helped inspire her political career.

"When I was an academic at U of T, Hugh encouraged me to run for office," she said.

"For him, it didn't matter that I would run under another political stripe. He was most interested in how we can, individually and collectively, contribute to the betterment of our society. Hugh, I miss you."