Former Liberal Cabinet Minister Marc Garneau Has Resigned His Seat

After more than a decade serving as the Member of Parliament for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount, former Liberal Cabinet minister and first Canadian astronaut in space, Marc Garneau, has announced his resignation from his seat.

Garneau has been a respected member of the Canadian political landscape since his first election in 2008. Prior to his political career, he was a celebrated astronaut, having flown on three space missions with NASA. He made history in 1984 as the first Canadian to travel to space, and his achievements have been a source of pride for many Canadians.

During his time in politics, Garneau held various high-profile positions, including serving as the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was also the first Canadian to be elected as the President of the Canadian Space Agency.

Garneau’s decision to resign from his seat is a loss for both his constituents and the Liberal Party. His experience and expertise in science and technology and his commitment to public service made him a valuable asset to the party and the country as a whole.

Garneau’s departure also highlights the issue of succession planning within political parties. With the threat of an election always possible in minority governments, the Liberal Party will need to quickly find a suitable replacement to represent the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount. This task is not easy, as Garneau’s shoes will be difficult to fill.

Furthermore, Garneau’s resignation underscores the importance of having experienced and knowledgeable individuals in positions of leadership. His expertise in science and technology was particularly important as Canada continues to make strides in these fields. It is crucial that the Canadian government continues to prioritize these areas and that individuals with expertise in these fields are given a prominent role in shaping policy.

Garneau’s resignation will now leave five vacant seats needing to be filled in the House of Commons. The 45th Canadian federal election is to take place on or before October 20, 2025, which requires any vacant seat to be filled within a by-election within 180 of its vacancy.