Ambassador to Germany and former British Columbia premier John Horgan has died at the age of 65, after his third bout with cancer.
Horgan served as B.C.'s New Democrat premier for five years before stepping down in 2022, then was appointed ambassador last year.
Today, British Columbia lost a remarkable leader, and we in the BC NDP lost a dear friend and mentor.
— BC NDP (@bcndp) November 12, 2024
John Horgan dedicated his life to public service, to the people of British Columbia, and to the principles of fairness, compassion, and integrity. pic.twitter.com/ELBZO64eZi
— Sheena McConnell (@HorganPS) November 12, 2024
But in June, Horgan announced he was on leave after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and a government source has confirmed his death.
Horgan, who served five terms as a member of the provincial legislature, resigned his suburban Victoria seat in March 2023, citing health reasons after he received more than 30 radiation treatments to battle throat cancer.
Premier David Eby issued a statement saying the news of Horgan's passing leaves him with a heavy heart.
John Horgan’s death leaves us with heavy hearts. John loved this province and its people. He sought to build a better, stronger British Columbia for everyone.
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) November 12, 2024
His beloved wife, Ellie, and sons, Evan and Nate, are in our thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/EozKTUNdE7
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of John Horgan. He was a leader that had the uncanny ability to connect with people regardless of political stripe. John will be remembered as a true friend to Surrey. My deepest condolences to John’s family. In honour of his memory,… pic.twitter.com/BM5L7MfdV5
— Office of the Mayor (@SurreyMayor) November 12, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was saddened to learn of Horgan's passing, a man who "tirelessly advocated for workers."
John Horgan believed in the power of public service. He saw it as a privilege, as a way to help others and to make our country better.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 12, 2024
He loved British Columbia. As Premier, he had a tenacity, passion, and dedication for his work that very few could match. Through the pandemic,… pic.twitter.com/cj1M6sRC0D
Horgan’s retirement from political life didn’t last long as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named him Canada’s ambassador to Germany in November 2023.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh spoke to their incredible friendship and a special bond they shared.
He was an incredible leader and a dear friend — a pillar of our movement — who made life better for working people.
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) November 12, 2024
John always put the needs of others first.
I am heartbroken to lose him.
Rest in peace my friend. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/cXwcyoSz7o
Political scientist Hamish Telford, who teaches at the University of the Fraser Valley says Horgan accomplished a rarity in politics: he left office more popular than when he was first elected.
But just six months into his ambassadorial appointment, Horgan announced he had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer after a routine checkup in Berlin for his previous throat cancer.
Horgan had been successfully treated for bladder cancer in 2008.
"I am on leave from my position at the embassy and in hospital receiving immunotherapy to treat this new thyroid cancer," Horgan said in a statement. "It is the third instance of cancer I have had but I remain confident and hopeful that I will again live long and prosper."
The "live long and prosper" comment revealed the former premier's sense of humour was intact, as was his love of science fiction and the TV series "Star Trek."
Former BC Premier Christy Clark spoke to the legacy that Horgan has left behind.
Deeply saddened by the passing of former Premier John Horgan.
— Christy Clark (@christyclarkbc) November 12, 2024
Public life takes every ounce of your attention, of your heart, and of your time. There is no doubt that Horgan's commitment to British Columbia and his dedication to public service have left an enduring legacy.
My…
Horgan will be remembered as a leader whose eight years at the helm of the B.C. New Democrats managed to elevate the party to a pragmatic and steady political force that voters could support after almost 20 years in opposition, said Telford.
“Against the odds, he succeeded and governed for five years and if it wasn’t for his health I’m sure he could have kept on governing,” Telford said. “He went out more popular than when he came in. That is an extraordinary feat for any politician.”
Horgan, known before becoming premier as a take-no-prisoners, often angry opposition politician, transformed into a compassionate, big-hearted, easygoing leader who would say being in government put a spring in his step as opposed to the drudgery of opposition.
“I would say his chief political legacy has been really cementing the NDP for the decade as the party of government,” Telford said. “The NDP had only sort of snuck into office previously where there was vote splitting on the right. John Horgan overcame that image of the NDP and planted them very firmly in the middle of the spectrum.”
Mayor of Vancouver Ken Sim spoke to his commitment as a politician.
Today, we lost former Premier John Horgan, who dedicated his life to British Columbia.
— Mayor Ken Sim (@KenSimCity) November 12, 2024
John led with integrity and his commitment to the people of this province, his compassion, and his sense of humour will be deeply missed.
My thoughts are with his family, friends, and all…
Longtime B.C. New Democrat Mike Farnworth, who knew Horgan as a political colleague and personal friend for more than 30 years, said the former premier convinced voters, and New Democrats themselves, that the party could lead and govern.
“He shattered myths that had often been perpetuated about New Democrats,” said Farnworth in an interview before Horgan's death. “They couldn’t govern. They couldn’t get back-to-back majorities with the same leader. He showed that we could be a governing party and not an opposition party. He showed that we could manage the economy, could govern and we could be a stable majority government.”
Farnworth said he viewed Horgan’s political legacy as the progress his governments made on reconciliation with First Nations, making history in 2019 when the B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act became law, and when he helped to steer the province through the COVID-19 pandemic.
But his true legacy was the personal approach he brought to politics, he said.
“His legacy is you can be a decent, genuine individual and you can succeed in politics,” Farnworth said. “He’s genuine. What you see is what you get and I think that was the secret of his success.”
Former BC United house leader Todd Stone had paid tribute to Horgan in the legislature as he left provincial politics, poking fun at the former premier’s frequent use of the term "level best."
“John from Langford: all British Columbians thank you for your love of our province, your commitment to serving its people best and thank you for always doing your level best,” he said to thunderous applause and laughter.
Horgan, a huge sports fan who kept a lacrosse stick and ball in his office and was a regular, jersey-wearing fan at Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse games, said his love of playing and watching team sports helped him in the political arena.
He was known for taking a team approach to developing government programs and he used skills honed on the basketball court to forge ties with political friends and foes.
The final details of the agreement that produced the NDP minority government in 2017 were agreed upon while Horgan and former Green leader Andrew Weaver sat beside each other at a rugby game in Langford.
Horgan also said he learned to lean on Conservative premiers Doug Ford and Jason Kenney for advice on approaching the federal government on national issues at Council of the Federation gatherings.
He said personal struggles related to his father’s death from a brain aneurysm, when Horgan was 18 months old, and his mother’s efforts to raise four children opened his heart, especially to society’s underdogs.
There were times when his family received food hampers and he was heading down a wrong path as a teenager, Horgan said.
He credited a high school teacher who took him aside and told him to concentrate on sports and academics with turning his life around.
Horgan, known early in his political career for a quick temper, also displayed a sharp sense of humour while premier.
In 2017, during his first visit to Ottawa as premier amid tense confrontations with the federal government over the TMX pipeline from Alberta to B.C., Horgan accidentally knocked over a glass of water at a news conference.
Immediately, he said, “Spills happen.”
Trudeau replied, “We’ll clean that up."
Horgan said: “Yes you will, it’s a federal responsibility.”
