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The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, OOnt Speaks at Canadian Club of Halton

The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, OOnt Spreaking at Canadian Club of Halton | Janet Bedford
The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, OOnt Spreaking at Canadian Club of Halton | Janet Bedford

The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, OOnt, Master of Massey College, past member of the Senate of Canada, was the guest speaker at a well-attended Canadian Club of Halton dinner on March 23, 2017. Mr. Segal was eloquent, witty and extremely knowledgeable as he sketched an insider’s view of Canada’s Global Future with remarks titled “Understanding the Mix Between Global Security & Economic Opportunity World-Wide”.

Mr. Segal has worked with top officials of the Canadian Government, both Conservative and Liberal, for much of his working life. His daughter Jacqueline, a graduate of U of T with an Honours BA in Political Science and Master of Arts, Global Media from American University of Paris, is following closely in his footsteps. After graduation she worked for the Jimmy Carter Presidential Centre democracy program in Atlanta, overseeing elections in the Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea and Tunisia and she is now assisting the Ontario Region of the Nature Conservancy of Canada with their communications.

The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, with Head Table Guests - Spreaking at Canadian Club of Halton |  The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, with Head Table Guests - Spoke at Canadian Club of Halton. Photo Credit: Janet Bedford
The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, with Head Table Guests - Spreaking at Canadian Club of Halton | The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, with Head Table Guests - Spoke at Canadian Club of Halton. Photo Credit: Janet Bedford

Hugh Segal was politically inspired by a visit by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker to his Montreal High School in the early 1960’s. A graduate in Canadian History from the University of Ottawa, he was an aide to federal Progressive Conservative Leader of the Opposition Robert Stanfield in the early 1970’s while still a university student. At age 21, he was an unsuccessful candidate in Ottawa Centre for the Canadian House of Commons in the 1972 general election and again in 1974.

Segal was a senior aide to Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Bill Davis in the 1970’s and 1980’s and was named Deputy Minister at age 29. He was Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney from 1992 to 1993.

The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, Discusses his Book "Two Freedoms" Spreaking at Canadian Club of Halton |  The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, discussed his Book
The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, Discusses his Book "Two Freedoms" Spreaking at Canadian Club of Halton | The Hon. Hugh Segal, OC, discussed his Book

Segal finished second to Joe Clark after the first ballot of the 1998 Progressive Conservative leadership election, but chose to withdraw and support Clark (the eventual winner) in the second ballot runoff vote. Segal was summoned to the Senate of Canada in 2005 by the Governor General on the recommendation of Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin.

His work in the Senate included chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and Chair of the Special Senate Committee on Anti-Terrorism. He became the fifth Master of Massey College in December 2013 and is also a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs.

Two Freedoms: Canada’s Global Future Two Freedoms: Canada’s Global Future by Hugh Segal: Photo Credit: Dundrun

Two Freedoms: Canada’s Global Future by Hugh Segal: Photo Credit: Dundrun

Hugh Segal’s remarks included thoughts and arguments from his latest book “Two Freedoms: Canada’s Global Future”. Burlington’s Different Drummer Books participated in the evening offering the book for sale with Hugh graciously signing all copies.

Segal does not envy the “thirteen souls” currently running for the Conservative Party nor does he feel, based on history, that countries act fast enough to save peace and order. In his book, he stresses “the need for commitment to freedom from want and freedom from fear” in North America and abroad. In his book and in his remarks, he outlined “the ramifications of allowing these two freedoms to die or diminish”.

Currently in its 31st season, the 200 member not-for-profit, volunteer-driven Canadian Club of Halton has been hosting guest dinner speakers on a wide range of subjects since 1986.

Dr. Linda Penn, PhD, Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Dr. Linda Penn, PhD, Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre will be April's speaker.

Dr. Linda Penn, PhD, Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre will be April's speaker.

The next dinner speaker on April 20 is Dr. Linda Penn, PhD, Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Director, Office of Research Trainees, University Health Network; Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto with a presentation titled “Understanding Cancer and Personalized Medicine”.

Dinners are held at the Oakville Conference Centre, 2515 Wyecroft Road, Oakville, L6L 6P8 (QEW & Bronte Rd). Reservations can be made by e-mail ([email protected]), by telephone (905-827-6302), or by mail (cheques payable to Canadian Club of Halton, 283 River Side Drive, Oakville, L6K 3N3). For more information, visit www.canadianclubhalton.ca.


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