Former employees say that Mark Garno died after ‘small but very difficult fight’ with cancer, says former employees.
Former employees say that Mark Garno died after ‘small but very difficult fight’ with cancer, says former employees.
Mark Garno died this week after diagnosis of two types of cancer earlier this week, says his former employee.
The first Canadian to visit the space and former cabinet minister died on Wednesday. He was 76 years old.
Mark Roy, former Chief of Staff of Garno, told CBC Shakti and politics The former minister revealed lymphoma and leukemia earlier this year.
Roy told hosts David Kochran, “He fought a small but very difficult battle with two very rare types of cancer.”
“Although his diagnosis was only a few months ago, he was fine till four or five weeks ago. So it went very quickly … it’s a very, very difficult disadvantage.”
Roy said that Garno shared his diagnosis with only a small cycle that agreed to respect his will for privacy.
Roy said, “(this) was something that he wanted to keep with his family so that he could focus on his time with his family and could not distract his family carefully.”
Look Garno’s ‘extraordinary ride’:
Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with former liberal liberal -affairs Liberal Minister of Foreign Affairs and the first astronaut of Canada, about his life on this planet and out of it: being the first Canadian astronaut, his political career and his relationship with the Prime Minister.
Beyond his legacy as an astronaut, Garno held several federal cabinet positions since 2015, including transport and foreign affairs.
Roy said that Garno was “tremendous” to work as he reflected in politics on his time.
“This is a huge disadvantage for the government. I think their years in Ottawa are full of contributions in improving security and expansion of policy. I think he will be remembered for decades to come,” Roy said.
MPs pay tribute to former colleague
The House of Commons held another moment of silence for Garno on Thursday and MPs took time to pay tribute to their former colleague.
“They reminded us that Canadians could have big dreams, that we can target quite literally for the stars,” said Steve Mcinon, the leader of the government house.
“He became a powerful symbol of achievement and the achievement of this great country.”
Like Macinon, other MPs reflected how Garno inspired Canadians.
“Mr. Garno, the future will always be inspired by your life, which was very inspiring to all Canadian people,” Conservative MP Gerard Deletell said in French.
BLOC Québécois MP Rhéal Fortin stated that Garneau paved the way for other Canadian people traveling in space, including Chris Headfield and Julie Penett.
“He showed us the way of stars,” Fortin said in French.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May said that while shedding tears, “it was difficult to say goodbye to someone who was inadvertently (and) precious respectable.”
“We have lost a very great person, and for his whole family: my deep condolences and sympathy – and know that at the place where he now looks down on the planet Earth, I think it’s a place called heaven.”
