Chuck Strahl, former Conservative MP and Cabinet Minister, passes away
Former Conservative MP and cabinet minister Chuck Strahl has passed away at 67 years old.
Strahl served as the representative for the B.C. riding of Chilliwack–Fraser Canyon from 1993 until his retirement in 2011.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre honored Strahl as a close friend in a social media tribute on Wednesday.
“Chuck’s steadfast dedication to our cause and his profound love for Canada influenced everything he did,” Poilievre stated.
“He embodied principles, integrity, and compassion, and was a key member of our Conservative party.”
Initially elected as a Reform Party MP, Strahl served in various cabinet roles under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, including minister of agriculture, transport, and what was then known as Indian affairs and northern development.
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His son, MP Mark Strahl, shared in a family statement on social media that Strahl passed away after battling mesothelioma.
The family emphasized that despite his political achievements, Strahl always remembered the importance of family, friends, and his Christian beliefs.
Coming from a forestry background, Strahl was married to his wife, Debby Bateman, for almost five decades, and together they raised four children and had 13 grandchildren.
“Dad took great pride in his wife, children, their partners, and his grandchildren, viewing them as his greatest happiness and legacy,” the family expressed.
Former Conservative cabinet minister John Baird echoed in a social media tribute that Strahl was “one of the most honorable, decent, and respected individuals I’ve had the pleasure of meeting,” and that his “good-naturedness” and “infectious humor” will be dearly missed.
