Former federal Liberal Minister Marc Lalonde passed away on May 7 at age 93. The son of a farmer, Lalonde was born in Île-Perrot and lived with his wife in Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot for several years.

He studied law and received degrees from the Université de Montréal and University of Oxford in England. In 1969, Lalonde began working on Parliament Hill in Ottawa as a special adviser to the Minister of Justice.

Lalonde was one of the key players behind the candidacy of Pierre Elliott Trudeau during the Liberal party leadership race in 1968. After Trudeau was elected Prime Minister that same year, Lalonde became an essential right-hand man and was appointed Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. 

He was also involved in many issues throughout his political career, including the 1970 October Crisis in Quebec. He acted as a liaison between Ottawa and the provincial government when parliament introduced the War Measures Act.

In October 1972, Lalonde was elected Member of Parliament for Outremont and became Minister of Health, a position he held until1977. When the Parti-Québécois was elected to form a majority provincial government in 1976, Trudeau appointed Lalonde to oversee federal/provincial relations.

Lalonde later inherited the federal Ministry of Justice portfolio in 1978 while continuing to exert his influence on the Quebec Liberal caucus.

When the Parti-Québécois was elected in 1976, Lalonde was appointed to oversee federal-provincial relations. In 1978, Lalonde inherited the portfolio of the Department of Justice, while continuing to exert his influence on the Quebec Liberal caucus.

Lalonde did not run for reelection in 1984 but stayed active in federal politics and became a lobbyist. More recently, he was the honorary chairman of the federal Liberal campaign committee for the riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and in 2019 campaigned for the reelection of federal Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Schiefke.

Schiefke took to social media to post a final personal tribute to Lalonde. "It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that our dear friend and cherished member of our community, the Honorable Marc Lalonde, passed away this weekend at the age of 93. He was an outstanding Canadian statesman, dedicated lawyer and public policy maker," said Schiefke.

"Born in L'Île-Perrot in 1929, Marc left an indelible mark on Canadian history that will never be forgotten. A brilliant scholar and a steadfast advocate for equity, social justice and Canadian unity, Marc has had a profound impact on countless lives", Schiefke continued.

"It was an honor for me to call this extraordinary intellectual and politician both a mentor and a friend. By remembering and celebrating Marc's incredible life, we take with us his lasting legacy. On behalf of my family and all residents of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, I offer my most sincere condolences to his wife Claire and his entire family. Rest in peace, Marc Lalonde," concluded Schiefke.

Marie-Claude Nichols, Vaudreuil riding member Member of the provincial National Assembly spoke personally to Néomédia to express her condolences

“Marc Lalonde was a citizen in Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot. He always supported me in both municipal and provincial politics. He invited me to his home last February. He was interested in my exclusion from caucus in the National Assembly. His wife and he were in symbiosis. She must be terribly sad. My thoughts are with him as well as all the members of his family," said Nichols