Parliamentarians from all stripes on Monday paid tribute to the “indefatigable” late auditor general Michael Ferguson.
Ferguson, 60, served in the role for seven years before his death from cancer on Saturday.
Although his initial appointment to the role was contentious because at the time he did not speak French, his commitment to learning the language and never making attempts to “sugar coat the facts” earned him respect across the political spectrum that was on display in the tributes offered by members of Parliament.
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“Michael Ferguson devoted his life to public service,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a statement given at the beginning of question period.
“We will remember him for his tireless dedication to promote a transparent, open government that is accountable to Canadians.”
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Treasury Board President Jane Philpott was the first to rise to pay tribute to Ferguson after question period.
She called Ferguson “indefatigable” and said that even as he was dealing with cancer, he continued to advocate for “open, transparent and accountable” government through his work evaluating the financial well-being of government plans and priorities.
“He was always striving to make us better, as a government and as a country,” she said.
“He is gone too soon but we know that his was a life well lived. On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, I offer our deepest condolences to Mr. Ferguson’s family, friends and colleagues.”
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Ferguson’s office said he had been undergoing treatment since last November.
He did not take a leave of absence during that time, according to a spokesperson.
“He was still very much involved in the management of the office. This is actually quite sudden,” said Francoise Guyot, the office’s director of external communications.
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Pat Kelly, Conservative national revenue critic, told the House of Commons that Ferguson “never shied away” from delivering “tough, thorough audits” and added that whenever he appeared before committee to discuss his latest reports, “Canadians knew that a very bright light was about to be shone into the dark corners of their governments.”
“He made no attempt to sugar coat the facts,” Kelly said.
“He was never afraid to be exact and precise regardless of the topic or possible consequences to the governments of the day … He leaves a legacy of forcing governments and all departments to constantly improve.”
NDP MP David Christopherson, who is vice-chair of the public accounts committee that Ferguson often appeared before to explain his findings, remembered him as an “exemplary public servant” and “true professional.”
“Thank you, Mike, for everything you’ve done for our country,” Christopherson said.
“You’ve left behind an incredible legacy and challenged us to do service better.”
Bloc Québécois MP Louis Plamandon also added that Ferguson rose to the challenge of learning the French language and said his efforts to improve his language skills “showed great respect” for francophone Canadians.
Prior to becoming the federal auditor general, Ferguson had also served five years as auditor general for the province of New Brunswick.
He is survived by his wife, Georgina, and sons, Malcolm and Geoffrey.
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