COBURG, ON — Former Liberal MP Kim Rudd, who represented southern Ontario, has died.
Rudd died of ovarian cancer Tuesday at a hospice in Cobourg, Ont., according to her online obituary.
Rudd, 66, was president of the new Northumberland Peterborough South equestrian group from 2015 to 2019.
She served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources.
She also chaired the Congressional Health Investigations Caucus and served on the House Finance and Natural Resources Committees.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences to Rudd's family and friends, calling her a “thoughtful and tireless advocate for Canadians.”
“She made progress on important issues, from affordable housing to rural broadband to health care,” Trudeau said in a statement.
“As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, she championed Canada’s energy workers and helped advance climate action.”
A number of Liberal ministers took to social media to pay their respects, including Karina Gould, who is on maternity leave from her role as government leader in the House of Commons.
“I feel so lucky to have Kim a part of my life,” Gould wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “We were seatmates, neighbors, colleagues and friends.
“Kim was a fierce fighter for her community and in the fight against cancer. She used her experience to advocate for Ovarian Cancer Canada and women's health in general.”
Before entering politics, Rudd was chairman of Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce.
She received the RBC Canadian Women's Entrepreneurship Award for her community leadership and was a co-founder of the Cobourg Childcare Center, according to a statement from Prime Minister Trudeau.
She had an extensive career in public service and was involved in numerous local charities and sports organizations, according to her online obituary.
Ladd is survived by her husband, Tom; her daughters Alison and Stephanie; and her four grandchildren.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2024.
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