Hugh Segal
The Honourable Hugh Segal OC OOnt CD | |
---|---|
5th Principal of Massey College | |
In office July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2019 | |
Preceded by | John Fraser |
Succeeded by | Nathalie Des Rosiers |
Canadian Senator for Kingston—Frontenac—Leeds, Ontario | |
In office August 2, 2005 – June 15, 2014 | |
Appointed by | Paul Martin |
4th Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister | |
In office April 14, 1992 – June 25, 1993 | |
Prime Minister | Brian Mulroney |
Preceded by | Norman Spector |
Succeeded by | David McLaughlin |
Personal details | |
Born | (1950-10-13)October 13, 1950 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
Died | August 9, 2023(2023-08-09) (aged 72) Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
Political party | Progressive Conservative |
Alma mater | University of Ottawa |
Hugh Segal OC OOnt CD (October 13, 1950 – August 9, 2023) was a Canadian political strategist, author, commentator, academic, and senator. He served as chief of staff to Ontario Premier Bill Davis and later to Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Segal resigned from the Senate of Canada on June 15, 2014, as a result of his appointment as master (later principal) of Massey College in Toronto.[1]
Life and career
Politics and public policy
Segal was inspired by a visit from Prime Minister John Diefenbaker in 1962 to his school, United Talmud Torah Academy in Montreal.[2] Segal went on to graduate from the University of Ottawa and was an aide to federal Progressive Conservative Leader of the Opposition Robert Stanfield in the early 1970s, while still a university student.[citation needed]
At the age of 21, he was an unsuccessful Progressive Conservative candidate in Ottawa Centre for the House of Commons of Canada in the 1972 general election. He was defeated again in 1974.[3]
As a member of the Big Blue Machine, Segal was a senior aide to Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Bill Davis in the 1970s and 1980s, and he was named Deputy Minister at age 29.[citation needed] From 1992 to 1993, he was Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.[4]
Segal finished second to Joe Clark after the first ballot of the 1998 Progressive Conservative leadership election, but he chose to withdraw and support Clark (the eventual winner[5]) in the second ballot runoff vote against third-place finisher David Orchard.[6] He had also briefly considered running for the Progressive Conservative leadership in 1993.[7][8]
Senate
In 2005, Segal was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin.[9] He was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee until he "reluctantly" agreed to resign in 2007 at the request of the Conservative government, which reportedly wished to appoint a more ideologically conservative senator to the role after the committee issued a report critical of the Conservative government's foreign aid policy. Segal insisted, however, that the move was an administrative one.[10] Segal later served as Chair of the Special Senate Committee on Anti-Terrorism.[11]
In December 2013, Segal announced his intention to resign from the Senate in June 2014, twelve years before he would reach the mandatory retirement age of 75, to accept an academic appointment as Master of Massey College in Toronto.[12]
Commonwealth
On July 7, 2010, Segal was appointed to the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG) by Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma. The group's mandate is to set out recommendations on how to strengthen the Commonwealth and fulfill its potential in the 21st century.[13] In December 2011, the federal government appointed him special envoy to the Commonwealth with the task of convincing individual countries to sign on to the EPG's 106 recommendations.[14]
Political views
Segal espoused a moderate brand of conservatism that has little in common with British Thatcherism or US neoconservatism. He was a Red Tory in the tradition of Benjamin Disraeli, Sir John A. Macdonald, John Diefenbaker and his mentors Robert Stanfield and Bill Davis. This political philosophy stresses the common good and promotes social harmony between classes. It is often associated with One Nation Conservatism. The focus is on order, good government and mutual responsibility. Individual rights and personal freedom are not considered absolute. In his 1997 book Beyond Greed: A Traditional Conservative Confronts Neo-Conservative Excess, Segal sought to distinguish what he called "traditional" conservatives from neo-conservatives, notably those in the United States.
In an earlier book, his 1996 memoir No Surrender (page 225), Segal wrote: "Progressive Conservatives cannot embrace the nihilistic defeatism that masquerades as a neo-conservative polemic in support of individual freedom and disengagement." He went on to deplore "American fast-food conservatism." In a speech to the National Press Club on June 21, 1995, Segal referred to the "selfish and directionless nature of the American revolution -- which was more about self-interest, mercantile opportunity, and who collected what tax than it was about tolerance or freedom."
Segal opposed on civil liberties grounds the imposition of the War Measures Act by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in the October Crisis of 1970. He favoured strengthening Canada's military and encouraging investment while maintaining a strong social safety net. His 1998 proposal to reduce Canada's Goods and Services Tax from 7% to 6% (and then 5%) was adopted by Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party in 2005. During his leadership campaign, he stated his support for capital punishment.
On June 6, 2012, Segal had a comment published in the National Post[15] outlining his views on Basic Income. In December 2012, Segal published an essay[16] in the Literary Review of Canada promoting the benefits of a guaranteed annual income.
Journalism
In the 1980s and 1990s, Segal became a television pundit and newspaper columnist. In the private sector, Segal has been an executive in the advertising, brewing, and financial services industries.
Academic work
Segal lived in Kingston, Ontario, and until 2014 was a faculty member at Queen's University's School of Policy Studies, and has also taught at the university's school of business. He served as president of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, a Montreal think tank, from 1999 to 2006. He sat on the board of directors and was a distinguished fellow at the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute.[17] He was also a member of the Trilateral Commission.[18]
Segal was appointed Master of Massey College in the University of Toronto (effective at the end of June 2014) and retired from the Senate to accept the position.[19] He retired from the Massey College position effective June 30, 2019, five years into his seven-year term, and was succeeded by Nathalie Des Rosiers.[20]
Personal life and death
Segal was born in Montreal into what he described as a "very low-end, working-class family in what is now called Le Plateau". However richer relatives ensured that he and his brothers received a good education.[21] He was Jewish.[22]
He was the brother of corporate executive and former university administrator Brian Segal, and of artist Seymour Segal. He was married to Donna Armstrong Segal, a former Ontario Ministry of Health executive. They had one daughter, Jacqueline.[23]
Segal died on August 9, 2023, in Kingston, Ontario, at the age of 72.[4]
Honours
- In 2003, Segal was made a Member of the Order of Canada which was later promoted to the grade of Officer.[24] Segal held an honorary doctorate from the Royal Military College of Canada, University of Ottawa and Queen's University.
- In 2004, Segal was named honorary captain in the Royal Canadian Navy in 2004. [1]
- He was made chair of the NATO Association of Canada in 2013.[25]
- In 2013, Segal was honoured with a Peace Patron Award by The Mosaic Institute, an NGO based in Toronto working to promote pluralism reducing conflict in Canada and abroad.[26]
- In 2016, he was made a member of the Order of Ontario.[27]
- In 2017 He was awarded the Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) for 12 years service with the Royal Canadian Navy.
Electoral record
1998 Progressive Conservative Party of Canada leadership election
Candidate | First Ballot October 24 | Second Ballot November 14 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Points | % | Points | % | ||
CLARK, Charles Joseph (Joe) | 14,592 | 48.5% | 23,321 | 77.5% | |
SEGAL, Hugh | 5,689 | 18.9% | Endorsed Clark | ||
ORCHARD, David | 4,916 | 16.3% | 6,779 | 22.5% | |
PALLISTER, Brian William | 3,676 | 12.2% | Endorsed Clark | ||
FORTIER, Michael M. | 1,227 | 4.1% | Endorsed Clark | ||
Total | 30,100 | 100.0% | 30,100 | 100.0% |
1974 Canadian federal election - Ottawa Centre
1974 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Liberal | Hugh Poulin | 15,308 | 43.33 | +4.81 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Hugh Segal | 12,138 | 34.36 | -0.87 | ||||
New Democratic | Irving Greenberg | 6,739 | 19.08 | -6.04 | ||||
Independent | Bela Egyed | 877 | 2.48 | |||||
Social Credit | John Graham | 139 | 0.39 | -0.26 | ||||
Independent | Ray Quann | 63 | 0.18 | |||||
Marxist–Leninist | Phil Sarazen | 62 | 0.18 | |||||
Total valid votes | 35,326 | 100.00 |
1972 Canadian federal election - Ottawa Centre
1972 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Liberal | Hugh Poulin | 14,101 | 38.52 | -19.22 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Hugh Segal | 12,899 | 35.23 | +1.01 | ||||
New Democratic | Irving Greenberg | 9,195 | 25.12 | +17.07 | ||||
Social Credit | Rocco Zavarella | 237 | 0.65 | |||||
Independent | Paul Herman | 177 | 0.48 | |||||
Total valid votes | 36,609 | 100.00 |
Published works
- Segal, Hugh (November 1, 2019). Bootstraps Need Boots: One Tory's Lonely Fight to End Poverty in Canada. On Point Press. ISBN 978-0774890458.
- Segal, Hugh (April 23, 2016). Two Freedoms: Canada's Global Future. Dundurn Press. ISBN 978-1459734456.
- Segal, Hugh (January 31, 2011). The Right Balance: Canada's Conservative Tradition. Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 978-1553655497.
- Segal, Hugh (November 7, 2006). The Long Road Back: The Conservative Journey, 1993-2006. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0002006132.
- Segal, Hugh (March 18, 2005). Geopolitical Integrity. Institute for Research on Public Policy. ISBN 978-0886451899
- Segal, Hugh (2000). In defence of civility: Reflections of a recovering politician. Stoddart Publishing. ISBN 978-0773732308
- Segal, Hugh (1997). Beyond greed: a traditional conservative confronts neoconservative excess. Stoddart Publishing. ISBN 978-0773730533.
- Segal, Hugh (1996). No Surrender: Reflections of a Tory Warrior. HarperCollins Canada. ISBN 978-0002553216.
References
- ^ Delacourt, Susan (December 12, 2013). "Senator Hugh Segal leaving Senate for Massey College post". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
- ^ Hugh Segal, The Long Road Back: Creating Canada's New Conservative Party (Harper Collins Canada, 2010), p. 7
- ^ Sallot, Jeff (July 9, 1974). "Liberals sealed their victory winning 9 of 10 key ridings". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. p. A2. Retrieved February 6, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Raycraft, Richard (August 10, 2023). "Hugh Segal, former senator and chief of staff to PM Mulroney, dead at 72". CBC News. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ Blanchfield, Mike (November 15, 1998). "Clark back in the saddle". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. p. A3. Retrieved February 7, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tory leadership race: It's Clark and Orchard". The StarPhoenix. Ottawa, Ontario. The Canadian Press. October 30, 1998. p. A18. Retrieved February 7, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mulroney aide eyes leadership bid". St. Catharines Standard. St. Catharines, Ontario. The Canadian Press. April 8, 1993. p. A10. Retrieved February 7, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Wills, Terrance (April 10, 1993). "Splash made by Segal shows up Tory race for what it is – dull". The Gazette (Montreal). Montreal, Quebec. p. A9. Retrieved February 7, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Armstrong, Frank; Bergin, Mark (August 3, 2005). "Senator Segal won't be 'lazy'". and "Tory policy expert a 'good call' for Senate, Liberal opponent says". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Kingston, Ontario. pp. 1–7. Retrieved February 6, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Ditchburn, Jennifer (February 21, 2007). "Tories oust Hugh Segal from key Senate post". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. The Canadian Press. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
- ^ Hendra, Peter (May 21, 2010). "Kingston senator to lead committee on anti-terrorism". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Kingston, Ontario. p. 3. Retrieved February 6, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Delacourt, Susan (December 13, 2013). "Segal leaving Senate for U of T post". Toronto Star. Ottawa, Ontario. p. A2. Retrieved February 6, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Elliot, Ian (July 8, 2010). "Senator to serve as adviser". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Kingston, Ontario. p. 3. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Cobb, Chris (December 23, 2011). "Tory senator Hugh Segal named special envoy to Commonwealth". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. p. A4. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hugh Segal: Governments can't ignore income security forever". Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ Segal, Hugh (December 2012). "Scrapping Welfare". Literary Review of Canada. 20 (10). Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ "CDFAI - Distinguished Research Fellows". Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- ^ "Trilateral Commission" (PDF). www.trilateral.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2012.
- ^ "Hugh Segal, Tory senator, to retire for Massey College job". CBC News. December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- ^ "Nathalie des Rosiers Elected Principal of Massey College – Massey College". Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ Ibbitson, John (August 17, 2023). "Distinguished Tory Hugh Segal enriched Canadian political life". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Folkins, Tali (January 31, 2019). "'Shoring up the pillars of hope': A conversation with Hugh Segal". Anglican Journal.
- ^ "Loyal Conservative 'a man of principle in the truest sense'". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. August 11, 2023. p. A4. Retrieved February 9, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Governor General Announces 100 New Appointments to the Order of Canada as Canada Turns 150". The Governor General of Canada His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ "SENATOR HUGH SEGAL – New Chairman, NATO Council of Canada". June 24, 2013.
- ^ "Peace Patron Dinner 2017 | Mosaic Institute". Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
- ^ "The 2016 Appointees to the Order of Ontario". December 14, 2016.
External links
- Hugh Segal fonds[permanent dead link] at Queen's University Archives
- Hugh Segal – Parliament of Canada biography
Parliament of Canada | ||
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Preceded by | Senator from Ontario 2005–2014 | Succeeded by Vacant |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by | Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister's Office 1992–1993 | Succeeded by David McLaughlin |
Academic offices | ||
Preceded by John Fraser | Principal of Massey College 2014–2019 | Succeeded by |
Non-profit organization positions | ||
Preceded by | President of the Institute for Research on Public Policy 1999–2006 | Succeeded by |