(No. 8 – January 8, 2010 – 9:00 p.m. EST) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie, offered their condolences following the death of Philippe Séguin, the president of the Court of Auditors of France and a distinguished French political leader.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish to offer my most sincere condolences to Mr. Séguin’s family and friends,” said Minister Cannon. “We mourn his passing with them and with the people of France. Mr. Séguin will be remembered as a committed and determined figure. He has always played a special role in Canada-France relations. ”
“His attachment to the Francophone communities of Canada, the friendship he shared with Quebec, and his collaboration with the Auditor General of Canada have made him a well-known and very appreciated figure in our country,” said Minister Verner. “His determination and frankness served him exceptionally well as president of the Court of Auditors, and these qualities were equally important throughout his remarkable political career.”
Philippe Séguin was minister of Social Affairs and Employment from 1986 to 1988, president of the French National Assembly from 1993 to 1997 and president of the Rally for the Republic political party from 1997 to 1999. Since 2004, he was president of the Court of Auditors, an important French institution responsible for monitoring public accounts.
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