Martin O'CONNELL

O'CONNELL The Honourable Martin O'Connell Ph. D (Privy Councilor). Born on August 1 1916 in Victoria, Martin O'Connell passed away in Toronto on Monday August 11. He died peace-fully with his family at his side after a fight with Parkinson'sdisease. Martin believed in serving the public, giving back to his country and advancing the cause of those who where not as fortunate. Throughout his full and varied life the principals of honesty, fairness, justice and humility, treating others with dignity and respect, always guided him as he set about distinguishing himself as a man to be honoured. He leaves his wife Helen Alice O'Connell (born Dionne) with whom he celebrated 58 years of marriage. Their love and dedication to each other was a model for all who knew them. He also leaves his daughter Caryn (John Johnston) and their two sons Nicholas and Kyle, his son John Martin (Martine Bouchard) and their two children Jean Christophe and Stphanie. His children, their spouses and grand children were the pride of his life. A brother Monsignor Michael O'Connell of Victoria and a sister Ellen Richert (widowed) of Saskatoon survive him. A sister Dr Sheila O'Connell of Victoria and a brother Sgt Johnny O'Connell who was killed in the battle for Caen in June 1944 predecease him. Martin O'Connell started his career as a public school teacher in the BC school system then completed a BA at Queen's university. As a veteran of the second world war (Captain RCASC) he completed his education at the University of Toronto with an MA then PhD in political economy. His PhD dissertation studied the nationalism of Henri Bourassa. He learned French so that he could read the documents and study the Bourassa archives in Ottawa and Montreal. Martin served on the Senate of the University of Toronto. He left the academic world for the financial one and joined Harris and Partners in the late 1950's. In 1965, while on loan to Walter Gordon then Minister of Finance and as one of the three "Whiz Kids", he helped design policies, which ultimately led to the Canada Pension Plan, Medicare, and the Municipal Loan Development Fund. Throughout the 1960's he served as the President of the Indian and Eskimo Association. During this time, he wrote many policy papers to improve aboriginal conditions and thus helped to bring attention to the difficulty that indigenous peoples where suffering. In 1965 he ranfor Parliament and failed to win a seat in Greenwood, he tried again in the federal riding of Scarborough East in 1968 and was elected. He was appointed Minister of State and later Minister of Labour in the Trudeau cabinet. He was co-chairman of the important hearings that shaped the immigration policies of this country. Defeated in 1972 he served as the Prime Minister's principal secretary throughout the minority years reshaping that office to bring the Paras co-chairman of the important hearings that shaped the immigration policies of this country. Defeated in 1972 he served as the Prime Minister's principal secretary throughout the minority years reshaping that office to bring the Paras co-chairman of the important hearings that shaped the immigration policies of this country. Defeated in 1972 he served as the Prime Minister's principal secretary throughout the minority years reshaping that office to bring the Paras co-chairman of the important hearings that shaped the immigration policies of this country. Defeated in 1972 he served as the Prime Minister's principal secretary throughout the minority years reshaping that office to bring the Paras co-chairman of the important hearings that shaped the immigration policies of this country. Defeated in 1972 he served as the Prime Minister's principal secretary throughout the minority years reshaping that office to bring the Paras co-chairman of the important hearings that shaped the immigration policies of this country. Defeated in 1972 he served as the Prime Minister's principal secretary throughout the minority years reshaping that office to bring the Paras co-chairman of the important hearings that shaped the immigration policies of this country. Defeated in 1972 he served as the Prime Minister's principal secretary throughout the minority years reshaping that office to bring the Par