Tribute to Hon. David Kilgour, M.P.

 

                         John Williams, M. P., Hüstin Läkü,Sr., David Kilgour, Oscar Gasana

“Hon. David Kilgour was like God, he was everywhere, but not in Ottawa”

          -Dr. Rev. John Keith, Diplomatic Missionary

“Hon. David Kilgour was Canadian, but African from inside”

          -African Diaspora

Hon. David Kilgour was nicknamed “David of Darfur”

          -Darfur campaign Groups

“Hon. David Kilgour was the only voice in the House for the Voiceless.”

          -Canadian Friends of Sudan (CFS)

I first heard about of Hon. David Kilgour, M.P.; P.C., Secretary of State for Africa, and Latin America from retired Dr. Sam Kwofie my dentist. Dr. Kwofie promised to introduce me to him for political support and to advance the Sudanese cause in the parliament.

 

On Oct 1999, upon my returned from the US, Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, Director of the Evangelical Christian Fellowship's Religious Liberty Commission organized a meeting for us (Eng. Roger Stone, Michael Lemi, and myself) to meet with him. The meeting went very well, and Hon. Kilgour showed interest in the suffering people of Sudan. He encouraged us to support his endeavors to bring the cause of the Sudanese before the House of Commons. But most importantly he wanted us to help his office with supporting evidence about the crimes of Khartoum regime and Talisman’s role in oil drilling in the Sudan. Hon. Kilgour’s Constituency is a home to large number of Sudanese specially, South Sudanese Cubans doctors & African diaspora communities.  

 

Hon. Kilgour was a career lawyer, prosecutor, and politician, and served as Member of Parliament for 27 years. He held several portfolios including Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, Secretary for Africa and Latin America, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. But mostly importantly, he will be remembered for his votes & opposition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the cost of the tunnel that links the East Block to the Centre Block, & May 19^th, 2005, vote against PM Paul Martin’s budget. He worked tirelessly on human rights campaigns for persecuted Christians and oppressed global citizens.

 

Hon. David Kilgour was a champion of Human rights, and his political advocacy and activism have touched many across partisan lines and across Canada. He championed the cause of the Darfur region of Sudan, Genocide and other African human rights issues in the House of Commons and gained support of his colleagues. His fight for human rights and vision to speak for the voiceless oppressed people in Africa have inspired Ms. Vivian Barbot, M.P.; Antoine Dubé, M.P.; Francine Lalonde, M.P.; Dr. Maurice Vellacott, M.P.; Hon. Jason Kenney, current Premier of Alberta; Hon. Stockwell Burt Day Jr; Charles Richard "Chuck" Strahl; Rahim Nizar Jaffer , M.P.; late Alexa Ann McDonough, M.P.; William Alexander Blaikie, M.P.; Paul Wilson Dewar, M.P.; John Edward "Ed" Broadbent , M.P.; Hon. Prof. Irwin Cotler, P.C.; Hon. Joseph Frank Fontana, M.P.; Borys Wrzesnewskyj, M.P.; Michael Levitt, M.P.; Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains, M.P.;  Ali Ehsassi, M.P., and many to continue his vision is an inspiration after his retirement from politics. Hon. Kilgour inspired his colleagues in the parliament to never be natural on human rights issues. To him neutrality helps the oppressors.

 

Hon. Kilgour fought the good fight, stood his ground, and held fast. His legacy of compassion, courage, integrity, and people person will forever remind us to continue fighting for freedom, human rights, authentic democracy and peace and justice for all. He was an authentic servant of global citizens, a true Christian believer who practiced politics in a Christian way and was an advocate of humanity.

 

I have known David as my Boss, mentor, a good friend, true hero & associate in fighting injustices & human rights violations & crimes against humanity in Africa, Asia, Burma, Iran, Iraq, and Ukraine. David was always there for Sudanese & African communities across Canada and helped advocacy and lobby work of Canadian Friends of Sudan (CFS) to influence Canadian policy makers. He linked CFS with the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Right Hon. Baroness Cox, Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, late Dr. Rabbi Reuven Pinchas Bulka CM, Co-president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Jewish communities in Canada, human rights groups, media networks, churches, and Christian organizations. He helped advanced the cause of suffering people of South Sudan to gain independence in 2011.

 

He offered hands to support many cases of asylum seekers and private sponsorship of refugees whether through churches or non-profit organizations. His office and residence were always open to strangers. He intervened personally when Canadian embassy in US denied entry visa to late Michael Lugar Bishop of Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS). He facilitated meetings for late Dr. Archbishop Joseph Marona, the Primate of ECS and retired Bishop Macram Max Gassis of Sudan's El Obeid Catholic Diocese and Canadian Members of the House Committee for Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

 

May those who believe in Hon. David Kilgour as human rights defender honor his legacy by keeping his vision alive and continue his unfinished mission. It’s heartbreaking, and deep loss that the Canada has lost a compassionate human saint, very rare authentic ethical politician, very special being, he is irreplaceable. I offered my love and profound condolences to Laura Scott Kilgour; his children, Margot (Nathaniel), Eileen, Hilary (Ryan), Dave (Ella), Tierra (Vlad); and his six grandchildren; his extended family and countless friends around the world. He is also survived by his sister, Geills McCrae Turner. He was predeceased by his parents, David Eckford Kilgour, Mary Sophia Kilgour and his brother, Donald Kilgour. May God’s richest be with his family as they through difficult time.

Hüstin Läkü, Sr.

Former Parliamentary Assistant & Sudan Advisor to Hon. David Kilgour, Secretary of State for Africa, and Latin America,

Founder of Canadian Friends of Sudan Internship Program @ University of Ottawa,

Co-founder of Canadian Friends of Sudan,

Founding Member of African Diaspora Association of Canada and 

Former Member of STAND.