[getsmart-l] Charles Caccia dies

[Gloria Boxen]

I was sorry to hear that Charles Caccia died Saturday evening.

 http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=4ad8032e-4025-4aa6-a76b-d747fbce56cb&k=69488
Canwest News Service, Published: Sunday, May 04, 2008 

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/421436, 
Paul Irish                , Staff reporter, Toronto Star

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Former Liberal MP Charles Caccia was a gentleman, a supporter of social justice and, above all, an environmentalist.  


Long before it was mainstream, he argued for fewer cars, cleaner air and more parks. He wasn't frightened of the big oil companies and even suggested the federal government cut back on what he thought were enormous subsidies.


Caccia, who represented the Toronto riding of Davenport between 1968 and 2004, suffered a stroke a week ago and had appeared to be recovering, but took a turn for the worse on the weekend. He died Saturday at age 78.


"We knew he was ill, but we didn't think it was that serious,'' said Mario Silva, the current MP for Davenport. "It caught us all by surprise. He was a great man, a real gentleman, and it's very sad."

Caccia was born on April 28, 1930, in Milan, Italy. In 1954, he graduated in Forestry Economics from the University of Vienna. He emigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto. Caccia was a professor of forestry at the University of Toronto and was well known for his strong pro-environment views.  


During his 36 years in Parliament, Caccia served as minister of labour, minister of the environment, and parliamentary secretary to the solicitor general, Treasury Board and Manpower and Immigration in the Trudeau and Turner governments, and Liberal critic on environmental issues.


"He was a true Liberal who cared about social justice and was passionate about human rights,'' said Silva.


Caccia was as far left as a Liberal could be – He was an outspoken opponent of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. He wanted to ban cars from downtown while expanding public transit.  Caccia, one of the few MPs to support Sheila Copps in her bid to become Liberal leader, found himself squeezed out of the party in 2004 when he lost the nomination to a Paul Martin supporter. He spurned a subsequent offer the run for the New Democrats.



CREDIT: Paul Latour for Ottawa CitizenCharles Cacci
Caccia was a close friend of the late prime minister Pierre Trudeau and they had long discussions on the Liberal vision of Canada.


In a statement Sunday night, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion hailed Caccia. "His passion for environmental and social justice issues was a great inspiration to all," it said.

 
"Mr. Caccia was a great Liberal who dedicated his life to building a better Canada," said Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion.



After leaving politics, Caccia remained active on environmental issues, serving as a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa Institute of the Environment and as president of the group Green Cross-Canada.




 




                  

        
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