Manitoba MP and former cabinet minister Jim Carr has died after a battle with cancer.
The news was announced in the House of Commons Monday.
Carr, who had represented Winnipeg South Centre since 2015, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma during the 2019 federal election campaign and battled kidney failure.
He was 71.
In a statement, his family said he was pleased to see his private member’s bill, “Building a Green Prairie Economy,” pass through the House of Commons just last week.
“Working with his fellow members of Parliament across the country over the past few months on this important legislation filled him with energy and kept his spirits high,” the family wrote.
“As a dedicated elected official, business and community leader in Manitoba for over 30 years, Jim was loved and respected by so many and we know he will be profoundly missed.”
Julian Ovens, who served as Jim Carr’s chief of staff when he was trade minister, spoke highly of his former boss.
“He was a gentleman. A moderate. A great colleague … and absolutely the best chair of any organization or meeting one could ask for,” he said.
“The Ottawa Group on WTO [World Trade Organization] Reform only worked because of his chairmanship.”