PRESBYTERIAN minister and former MP, Rev. Walter McLean was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians on June 4.
The peer-nominated award recognized McLean’s contributions to parliament and his continued work in the “promotion of education, human rights and parliamentary democracy in Canada and abroad.”
“Walter is a shining model for people who enter public life and continue to serve well after their term,” said Leo Duguay, president of the CAFP.
McLean served for 14 years as a Progressive Conservative MP, representing Waterloo, Ont. Prior to his career in politics, McLean was the minister of Knox, Waterloo.
“I never left the ministry. I had a ministry in parliament,” McLean told the Record.
He served as Minister of Immigration, Secretary of State for Canada and a member of Canada’s delegation to the United Nations. He also served on many foreign policy committees, often focusing on human rights in Africa.
After retiring in 1993, his passion for African affairs, ministry and politics continued. He serves as Honourary Consul in Canada for Namibia, minister in association at Knox, Waterloo, and remains engaged in political life.
In his acceptance speech McLean said he envisions “former parliamentarians coming in beside those who are nurturing … qualities [of faith, love, compassion, human understanding and sympathy] … and will continue to do my part.
“It is these qualities of the human spirit that always have, and always will, make the difference. They determine the outcome.”
