OLO Director of Communications killed

Michael Ignatieff's Director of Communications, Mario Laguë, has been killed in a tragic motorcycle accident in which his motorcycle collided with an SUV. Many details are not known, but it appears as though he was on his way to work.


Michael Ignatieff issued this statement:

"It is with great sadness that we learned this morning that our Director of Communications, Mario Laguë, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Ottawa.  

A man of many talents and accomplishments, Mario was a beloved member of our staff, and a valued personal advisor to me and the entire Liberal team. A man of great integrity and spirit, Mario served his country in many capacities with honour and dignity. Whether as a public servant under Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, Ambassador to Costa Rica or in his most cherished role as a husband and father, Mario brought a bright light to everything he did.  

While we will miss Mario's extensive talents, we will miss most of all his warmth, his humour, and his passion for Canada that inspired us all.  

On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary caucus, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, loved ones and the many, many friends and colleagues that knew him." 

The Liberal Leader is not the only one to express his feelings of this tragic loss, as other political figures and masses of journalists write about their pain as they mourn his loss.

NDP Leader Jack Layton had this to say:

"On behalf of all New Democrats my deeepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Mario Laguë,"

PMO Director of Communications, Dimitri Soudas said:

"On behalf of PMO Communications, I extend our deepest condolences to Mario Laguë's family, friends and colleagues. He will be missed."

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time.

In other news, Ignatieff is still in Iqaluit and Harper is in Barrie, ON helping out at a hockey tournament.Will this seemingly good willed gesture help restore some image after being absent from the political scene for nearly a month? It certainly won't help the census issue at all.