Marc Garneau died after 'short but very difficult battle' with cancer, former staffer says

Marc Garneau died this week after being diagnosed with two types of cancer earlier this year, his former staffer says.

The first Canadian to travel to space and former cabinet minister died on Wednesday. He was 76.

Marc Roy, Garneau's former chief of staff, told CBC's Power & Politics that the former minister had been diagnosed with lymphoma and leukemia earlier this year.

"He fought a short but very difficult battle with two very rare types of cancer," Roy told host David Cochrane.

"Although his diagnosis was only a couple of months ago, he was well until four or five weeks ago. So it went very, very quickly … it's a very, very tough loss."

Roy said Garneau only shared his diagnosis with a small circle that agreed to respect his wish for privacy.

"[It was] something he wanted to keep with his family so he could concentrate on his time with his family and not distract his family by the attention it could have gotten," Roy said.

WATCH | It's a tragic loss,' says former chief of staff: 

‘It’s a tragic loss:’ Ex-chief of staff remembers Marc Garneau | Power & Politics

22 days ago

Duration 10:32

Former astronaut and cabinet minister Marc Garneau died on Wednesday. Marc Roy, former communications director and chief of staff for Garneau, joins Power & Politics to share his memories of working with him, saying he was struck by Garneau's humility and humanity. ‘He was driven by a desire to contribute, to make Canada a better place and to give back as much as he could,’ Roy said.

Beyond his legacy as an astronaut, Garneau held a number of federal cabinet positions since 2015, including in transport and foreign affairs. 

Roy said Garneau was "tremendous" to work for as he reflected on his time in politics.

"It's a huge loss to government. I think that his years in Ottawa are filled with many contributions to improving safety and expanding policy. I think he will be remembered for that for decades to come," Roy said.

MPs pay homage to former colleague

The House of Commons held another moment of silence for Garneau on Thursday and MPs took time to pay tribute to their former colleague.

"He reminded us that Canadians can dream big, that we could aim for the stars quite literally," Government House leader Steve MacKinnon said.

"He became a powerful symbol of the achievement and the accomplishment of this great country of ours."

Like MacKinnon, other MPs reflected on how Garneau inspired Canadians.

"Mr. Garneau, the future will always be inspired by your life, which was so inspiring for all Canadians," Conservative MP Gérard Deltell said in French.

WATCH | Garneau's 'extraordinary ride': 

Marc Garneau’s ‘extraordinary ride’ through space, life and politics

9 months ago

Duration 9:16

Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with former Liberal minister of foreign affairs and Canada’s first astronaut Marc Garneau, about his life on this planet and outside of it: being the first Canadian astronaut, his political career and his relationship with the prime minister.

Bloc Québécois MP Rhéal Fortin said Garneau paved the way for other Canadians to journey to space, including Chris Hadfield and Julie Payette.

"He showed us the way to the stars," Fortin said in French.

Fighting back tears, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said it was hard to say goodbye to "someone who was unfailingly kind [and] unfailingly respectful."

"We've lost a very great human being, and to his entire family: my deepest condolences and sympathy — and know that in that space where he looks down at planet Earth now, I think it's a place called heaven."