Former astronaut and Liberal MP Marc Garneau has died at the age of 76 following a battle with cancer.
His wife, Pam Garneau, shared the news of his passing in a statement on Wednesday, saying he passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
“He faced his final days with the same strength, clarity, and grace that defined his life,” read the statement.
“We wish to express our heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of support, concern, and kind words received over the past few days. We are especially grateful to the medical team who provided such dedicated and compassionate care during his short illness. We kindly ask for privacy as we grieve this profound loss and take time to reflect and heal.”
Garneau was born in Quebec City and earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering physics at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario.
He was the first Canadian to go into space, flying on three separate space shuttle missions.
Garneau was president of the Canadian Space Agency from 2001 to 2005 before he was elected to the House of Commons in 2008, serving as the Liberal Minister of Transport and Minister of Foreign Affairs before retiring from politics in 2023.
MPs rose for a moment of silence in the House of Commons on Wednesday night at the request of government whip Mark Gerretsen.
Several politicians and notable Canadians paid tribute to Garneau on social media.
Fellow astronaut Chris Hadfield expressed his condolences in a social media post, saying the world had lost “a very good man.”
“Marc Garneau was my role model, mentor, 30-plus year close friend and a brave and exemplary Canadian for us all. My heart goes out to his family,” he wrote.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau said it was with “much sadness” that he had learned about Garneau’s passing.
“I first met Marc as a schoolboy in the early 1980s,” Trudeau said. “I was in awe of his service and his courage then, and continued to be as I had the privilege to serve alongside him in Parliament and in government. Marc truly embodied and exemplified Canadian greatness throughout his whole life.”
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Garneau “exceeded every expectation.”
“Canada has lost an exceptional person — not just an astronaut, but a true model of service and selflessness,” Champagne said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Garneau was “not only a remarkable Canadian and devoted public servant, but also a dear friend.”
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said she was “heartbroken” to learn about Garneau’s death.
“Marc was a man of deep integrity, humility and quiet strength,” she said. “A trailblazer, a mentor and a true statesman, he dedicated his life to serving Canada — with dignity, brilliance and grace.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Garneau was a “great Canadian” and was “a trailblazer and proud to serve the country he loved.”
Garneau said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press that his three flights changed the way he saw Earth.
“When you see that thin atmosphere and realize we’re filling it with greenhouse gases and pollutants …when you see these things, you realize, ‘What are we doing?’” he said in 2024. “If we don’t take care of this planet, there is nowhere else to go.”
Garneau said that, after flying in space, life was “not as intimidating.”
“It gave me a sense of confidence and it gave me confidence to move forward in life instead of playing it safe,” he said.
Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report
