Inside Politics

Sad News: OLO communications director Mario Lague killed in motorcycle accident (UPDATED with statement)

by Kady O'Malley Posted: August 12, 2010 10:39 AM Last Updated: August 12, 2010 3:31 PM
We're expecting a statement to come out from the leader shortly, but it's been confirmed that Mario Lague was killed in a motorcycle accident earlier this morning. I'll update this post with the official response from the party, but in the meantime, here's what Rosemary Barton wrote when he took the job last fall: 

Mario Lague: here's a name very familiar to those who have been on the Hill for some time. He worked for Bourassa and one Paul Martin during his time as PM. He's also been an ambassador to Costa Rica. Those who know him say he's a "bon vivant" and very personable. He used to pour over polling data with Bourassa so his strategic mind will be of much use to this office too.

On a personal note, I can say that Mario was unfailingly cheerful and quick to respond to my queries, no matter how afterhours or offbeat. He'll be very much missed on Parliament Hill, and all of our thoughts are with his family, friends and co-workers. 

UPDATE - From Michael Ignatieff: 

It is with great sadness that we learned this morning that our Director of Communications, Mario Laguë, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Ottawa. 

A man of many talents and accomplishments, Mario was a beloved member of our staff, and a valued personal advisor to me and the entire Liberal team. A man of great integrity and spirit, Mario served his country in many capacities with honour and dignity. Whether as a public servant under Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, Ambassador to Costa Rica or in his most cherished role as a husband and father, Mario brought a bright light to everything he did. 

While we will miss Mario's extensive talents, we will miss most of all his warmth, his humour, and his passion for Canada that inspired us all. 

On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary caucus, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, loved ones and the many, many friends and colleagues that knew him." 

Here's what Ignatieff had to say later this morning when asked about Lague during a chat with reporters after his tour of Frobisher Bay: 

"As you probably know, we lost the Liberal Party of Canada's communications director, Mario Lague, in a sudden and unexpected motorcycle accident this morning. So we're all just absorbing that news and send our deepest condolences to his family."

"He was on the Liberal Express with us. He was on the bus Monday night. I mean, it's just a sudden, savage reminder that life is ... life can be brutal, and our thoughts go out to his wonderful wife and his kids. And we'll continue, the Express continues, the bus continues, the tour continues, the team continues, but there's a hole in our hearts."


The Globe and Mail's Jane Taber notes that Lague had told a reporter just last week that he had recently taken up motorcycling, and joked that it was "part of his mid-life crisis." Over at the Toronto Star, Susan Delacourt has posted a moving tribute on her blog. 

Oh, and if you're wondering about all the photos that show him off in the background, almost out of frame, that's not a coincidence: he was, as I mused earlier when we were trying to find a picture to top the portal, one of those increasingly rare, old school communications directors who didn't feel the need to see his name and face out there. He truly believed that his job was to make sure his boss was the story, not himself.     

UPDATE - Paul Wells recalls that Lague "saw allies and adversaries as people and believed understanding them with a measure of sympathy was a professional and human obligation." It's worth reading the whole post, but here's how it ends:

On his return to partisan politicking, with Peter Donolo in Ignatieff's office last autumn, he worked to better organize the opposition's communications shop, clarify roles, set higher expectations. He was rarely on the phone spinning to reporters, even more rarely on the phone or Blackberry berating them. 
Yesterday afternoon at the corner of Queen and O'Connor in downtown Ottawa he told me he was disappointed I haven't been on Michael Ignatieff's summer bus tour yet. Maybe in two weeks, in Quebec's South Shore and Eastern Townships, he suggested. There's a thought, I replied. One reason the idea appealed was that I could benefit from spending more time with Laguë. I never did spend enough. This morning thousands of people in Ottawa and across the country have a similar feeling.
From the Hill politicotwitterverse and beyond: 

"My deepest sympathies go out to Mario Lague's family and friends on his passing. What a waste this is. He will be missed by all of us." - Liberal MP Keith Martin 

"Tragic! My thoughts and prayers are with Mario Lague's family. Shocking loss." - Former Liberal MP Omar Alghabra 

"Saddened by death of former colleague Mario Lague. Thoughts + prayers go out to family + friends." - Former Liberal Party president turned Toronto mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi

"Condolences on behalf of New Democrats to the Liberal Party and the staff team. Thoughts are with Mario's family, friends." - NDP national director Brad Lavigne 

"On behalf of all New Democrats my deeepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Mario Lague." - NDP Leader Jack Layton 

"My heart goes out to Mario Laguë's family and all his friends. Awful news & a tragic loss." - Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore 

"On behalf of PMO Communications, I extend our deepest condolences to Mario Laguë's family, friends and colleagues. He will be missed." - PMO Communications Director Dimitri Soudas

Check out additional tweets via Twitter Search.

UPDATE - More tributes are rolling in. From Prime Minister Stephen Harper: 

"I was very saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic passing today of Mario Laguë, Director of Communications for the Leader of the Opposition. 

 

"Throughout a varied and distinguished career, Mr. Laguë served his country with dedication both in Canada and abroad.  His numerous roles included serving as Prime Minister Paul Martin's Director of Communications, as Quebec's Delegate in Venezuela and in Mexico, as Canada's Ambassador to Costa Rica, and as Assistant Secretary to Cabinet - Communications and Consultations in the Privy Council Office.  


"Mr. Laguë will be greatly missed by those who knew him personally and who worked with him throughout his career.  His devotion and service to his country are his legacy.

 

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them in their time of grief."


Former Prime Minister Paul Martin issued a statement as well: 

Sheila and I were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic and sudden passing of our friend Mario Lague earlier today.  Our condolences, prayers and sympathies go out to Caroline and their daughters as well as the many other family members, friends and former colleagues who feel the sharp pain of his loss.

Mario had an enormous enthusiasm for public service and politics that energized his work and all those around him. As an ambassador and a public servant, Mario was a valued advisor on critical policy issues.

Mario loved Canada deeply.  He was a passionate and trusted aide.  A committed family member.

I spent much of last Sunday afternoon with Mario and Michael, as well as an hour at the airport where we just chatted about old times.  We will all miss him deeply.

UPDATE - Here's a clip of Rosemary Barton talking about the news on News Network:

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UPDATE - NDP Leader Jack Layton has also issued a statement:

I was deeply saddened this morning to learn of the sudden death of Mario Laguë, Director of Communications to Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. On behalf of all New Democrats, I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathies to Mr. Laguë's family, friends and colleagues.

Beneath the political fault lines that we find ourselves negotiating each day, there is a foundation of deep respect among those who devote their lives to public service. No matter what political stripes we may wear, we all feel this loss profoundly.

Mr. Laguë was a man of gentle strength who devoted decades to building a better country. We admire the consistent integrity he brought to his work, whether he was advising a Quebec premier or Canadian prime minister, or representing us all overseas as a Canadian ambassador.

We reserve a special place in our hearts today for Mr. Lague's wife and two children. I know so well that a political career is always a full-family endeavor. They too have given much. And as we mourn with them today, we do so as extended family. 

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