Jim Carr brought ‘reliable prairie pragmatism’ to cabinet, Trudeau says at memorial

Winnipeg MP Jim Carr brought his “reliable prairie pragmatism to the cabinet table” and inspired Justin Trudeau to do “difficult things in difficult moments,” the prime minister said at the Manitoba politician’s memorial service on Saturday.

Carr, who died on Dec. 12 at the age of 71, had represented the federal riding of Winnipeg South Centre since 2015.

He had been fighting multiple myeloma and kidney failure since 2019, according to a statement released by his family. Since then, Carr had received dialysis treatments, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

“Jim will be missed by our team,” said Trudeau.

Carr was formerly the minister of natural resources and minister of international trade diversification between 2015 and 2019. In 2021, he served as the special representative for the Prairies in Trudeau’s government.

He was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 — only days after he was re-elected.

Hundreds of people, including the prime minister, cabinet members and former political opponents, attended the memorial service for Carr in Winnipeg.

— with files from Global’s Aaron D’Andrea and The Canadian Press

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