Former Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Chuck Strahl speaks during a press conference at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa on Wednesday Nov. 21, 2007. Mr. Strahl's family announced the longtime cabinet minister has died at age 67.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Chuck Strahl, a former Conservative cabinet minister under prime minister Stephen Harper, has died as a result of the lung cancer he disclosed he was dealing with in 2005.
Mr. Strahl, an MP from British Columbia’s Fraser Valley from 1993 to 2011, died on Tuesday, his family said in a statement. He was 67.
“Our loss is deep and profound. Our dad was our best friend, our greatest defender, our biggest promoter and our rock,” said the statement issued by Mark Strahl, Mr. Strahl’s son and the current Conservative MP for Chilliwack-Hope.
Born in New Westminster, B.C., the elder Mr. Strahl entered politics in 1993 as an MP for the Reform Party after many years in the family logging business.
Eventually, he began a run in Conservative cabinets with posts as minister of agriculture, Indian and Northern affairs and transport. He retired from politics in 2011.
In 2005, Mr. Strahl announced he had mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer affecting his lungs. However, he ran for re-election in the 2006 election and won another term.
“While he was a very successful politician with many accomplishments during his time in office, he didn’t let his job define who he was. He never lost sight of what was truly important: his faith, his family and his friends,” said his family’s statement.
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre described Mr. Strahl as a dear friend and foundational member of the party. ”He was a man of principle, integrity and compassion,” Mr. Poilievre said in a posting on social-media platform X.
Mr. Strahl and his wife, Debby, have four children and 13 grandchildren.
The statement said details on a celebration of life will be released in coming days.