This report delves into the matter of Hugh Segal’s cause of death, his obituary, and his funeral arrangements. He passed away on August 9, 2023, in Kingston, Ontario. Currently, the exact cause of his death has not yet been determined, as indicated by the preliminary information we have acquired.
Who is Hugh Segal?
Hugh Segal hailed as a luminary within the realm of Canadian political strategy, held multifarious roles as an erudite author, insightful commentator, esteemed academic, and distinguished senator. It was John Diefenbaker’s momentous sojourn to Segal’s scholastic institution, the United Talmud Torah Academy in Montreal, during the year 1962, that bestowed upon him a wellspring of inspiration. Following the culmination of his academic journey at the University of Ottawa, Segal’s trajectory led him to serve as a proficient aide to Robert Stanfield, the eminent federal Progressive Conservative Leader of the Opposition, throughout the early 1970s.
Hugh Segal’s political career
Segal was selected by Paul Martin, a statesman of the liberal persuasion, to assume the mantle of a Senator in Canada’s Senate in the year 2005. Reportedly, the Conservative government harbored a desire to designate a Senator who aligned more staunchly with their ideological inclinations subsequent to a committee releasing a report that castigated the Conservative government’s foreign aid policy. Yielding to their request, Segal conceded his resignation in the year 2007, albeit with a touch of reluctance.
Yet, Segal advanced the argument that this alteration was predominantly a matter of administrative nature. Subsequently, Segal took up the position of chairperson for the Special Senate Committee on Anti-Terrorism.
Secured under the selection of Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, Segal joined the distinguished ranks of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on the 7th day of July in the year 2010. The central charter of this assembly involves the formulation of resolute recommendations intended to fortify the Commonwealth and guide it to its zenith in the twenty-first century.
The mantle of special envoy to the Commonwealth was conferred upon him by the federal administration in the month of December during the year 2011, entrusted with the solemn duty of persuading individual nations to endorse the 106 recommendations stemming from the EPG.
Segal championed a mode of conservatism characterized by moderation, diverging significantly from American or British neoconservatism, as well as British Thatcherism. He aligned with the tradition of Red Toryism, akin to the principles upheld by figures such as Robert Stanfield, Bill Davis, Sir John A. Macdonald, Benjamin Disraeli, and John Diefenbaker. This political doctrine places a profound emphasis on collective welfare and advocates for harmonious coexistence among social strata.
Frequently interwoven with this philosophy is the strand of One Nation Conservatism. Priorities encompass order, efficacious governance, and the cultivation of shared responsibility. Personal liberty and individual rights, while esteemed, are not absolute. Segal earnestly endeavored to demarcate what he termed as “traditional” conservatives from neo-conservatives, especially those within the United States, a discourse he meticulously presented in his work titled Beyond Greed: A Traditional Conservative Confronts Neo-Conservative Excess (Toronto: Stoddart, 1997).
Segal, basing his stance on the tenets of civil liberties, voiced his opposition to the implementation of the War Measures Act by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau during the turbulence of the October Crisis in 1970. He lent his support to the notion of upholding a robust social safety net while concurrently enhancing Canada’s military prowess and encouraging avenues of investment.
The proposal from 1998, conceived by Segal, to reduce Canada’s goods and services tax from 7% to 6% (and subsequently to 5%) received a resounding endorsement from Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party in the year 2005.
Throughout his presidential campaign, he remained an advocate of capital punishment. Published in 2006 by HarperCollins in Toronto, Segal’s most recent literary offering, The Long Road Back: The Conservative Journey, 1993–2006, took its place on the bookshelves.
Hugh Segal’s cause of death, obituary, funeral
The exact cause of Hugh Segal’s demise remains undisclosed at present. His obituary has been disseminated through social media channels to formally verify his passing. Colleague politicians, such as Rick Perkins, Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margarets conveyed:
“It is with deep sorrow that I acquaint myself with the news of the departure of my comrade and former Senator, Hugh Segal, who has left us at the tender age of 72. A devoted public servant to the provinces of Ontario and the nation of Canada, and an ardent architect of political endeavors, he was affectionately recognized within Party circles as the ‘Joyful Paladin.’ His sense of wit was truly cherished. In 1993, while fulfilling the role of Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Mulroney, he was posed with the inquiry, during his contemplation of vying for Party leadership, whether he had ever partaken in the consumption of cannabis. His response was in the negative, citing instead a penchant for smoked delicacies, and indeed, he did indulge. I implore you to peruse his literary works. From a personal perspective, as affirmed by numerous others, Hughie contributed significantly to elevating Canada’s stature, owing to his fervor and unwavering commitment. His departure marks a profound loss for his kin, companions, and his homeland.”
The particulars of his funeral arrangements are still pending.
