Former Chilliwack MP Chuck Strahl dead at 67

Former Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon MP Chuck Strahl has died at the age of 67, according to his family. 

Strahl died after a battle with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, according to a family statement that his son, Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl, posted to social media.

“Our loss is deep and profound,” his family said. “Our dad was our best friend, our greatest defender, our biggest promoter and our rock.”

Strahl served as an MP for more than 17 years. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993, in the Fraser Valley East riding. 

During his time in government, Strahl worked in former prime minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet in several roles, including minister of agriculture and agri-food, minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, and what was then called the minister of Indian affairs and northern development. 

He was born on Feb. 25, 1957, in New Westminster, B.C., according to the House of Commons website. 

Early in his career, Strahl worked as a logger and a businessman in British Columbia. 

He was elected to represent the new riding of Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon in 2004, as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada, after the boundaries of his former riding of Fraser Valley East were changed. 

“He was elected as a federal Member of Parliament in six consecutive elections, serving the people of Chilliwack and the surrounding area for 18 years,” reads his son’s statement.

Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre said in a post to X (formerly Twitter) that he was saddened to hear of Strahl’s passing. 

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