— Feature, Musings —09.30.2025 03:40 PM
Nigel Wright, RIP
Nigel Wright and I belonged to opposing political parties. We had differing views about politics. We didn’t move in the same circles.
And, full disclosure: my ex-wife was Wright’s partner for many years. They met in the office of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
Nigel and I didn’t socialize, me being a hardcore Alberta Liberal, and him being a hardcore Ontario Conservative. We weren’t friends, per se.
So, I did not ask my wife-to-be much about him. But, eventually, I learned a few things. A picture emerged.
Nigel Wright was adopted and brought up in a loving, good family. His parents were not wealthy, and Wright worked very hard for everything he got. He was a deeply religious Anglican who, for a time, contemplated the priesthood.
He devoted himself to his studies and charitable causes, his faith and — almost as much — the Conservative party.
As a young man, Wright conquered Bay St. – as a lawyer, as a dealmaker. He even became a millionaire at a very young age. But blue Tory blood ran through his veins — and there are only a handful of unelected people in this country who gave as much to conservative causes. Fundraising, policy, organization: Nigel Wright did it all.
He was successful, he was physically fit, he was – as far as I know – exceedingly happy and healthy. Which is what makes his sudden death Tuesday such a terrible shock. It is a huge loss for his party, for his employer Onex, and for the country.
Said Gerry Schwartz, Onex’s chairman and Nigel’s mentor: “Nigel was a remarkably astute investor, an outstanding leader and an even more exceptional individual. His professional and personal achievements may seem at odds with a man who was so humble and selfless with his time and resources. His passing is a loss not just for Onex but for anyone who had the privilege to know him.”
Nigel worked in Ottawa as Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Chief of Staff, where he was admired widely – including by those of us on the other side of the aisle. He left Ottawa, as so many of us do, disappointed by what we experienced there. So, he returned to Onex and the private sector and flourished.
He should be remembered for what he achieved on the Hill – not for anything else. The last time we spoke, that is what I said to him. He thanked me.
Nigel Wright was one of those names you hear about – one of the political and business advisors who does not seek the limelight, and who does so much good, selflessly.
Nigel Wright did good. He was a good and decent man. And the country is diminished by this terrible and sad loss.
RIP. So young.
Warren,
A lot of people have pro forma Honorable attached to their name and aren’t that, much less nice. Wright did not have that but he was more honorable than most of us who are still breathing. Truly, a good and decent person. Never heard a single bad word about him. RIP.
Except from many in the media including at least one “friend” and fellow student. The usual suspects were also more concerned about his prior business connections when he became chief of staff to Harper than they are with Carney’s now.
I really didn’t know that much about his background until now. The fact hat he would get up at 4am and run 20km every morning tells me almost everything I need to know about the man.
Wow. From his wiki page.
“Wright disclosed in writing to investigators that during his time in the prime minister’s office, he did not file a single expense claim, paying all his flights, hotels, meals and other costs from his own pocket. Investigators were told that it cost him tens of thousands of dollars but, thanks to his corporate career, he could afford it and that Wright held the belief that taxpayers should not bear the cost of his position if he was able legitimately to fund it himself.”
That was so decent of him.
Principles like that are sadly short in supply these days, especially in partisan political circles.
Here’s another thing about Wright you may not know. He was a fierce advocate for men who have their children taken from them by their wives / partners.
This exact thing happened to a very close friend of mine. He married an Argentinian woman, and they had two sons together shortly after being married. When the boys were very young, she brought them to Argentina under the pretense of visiting her family. She never came back to Canada.
Argentina does not grant parental rights to non-Argentinian fathers. So the mother had full control of the boys, and prohibited my friend from seeing or even communicating freely with his sons for most of their childhood. She allowed my friend to “buy” a limited amount of screen time with his sons, by paying for his (ex)wife’s apartment in Buenos Aires and funding most of her lifestyle.
Nigel Wright worked tirelessly on the Hague Convention On Child Abduction, and followed up personally with my friend as things were unfolding.
Great story. I am sure there are many more. This is a great tribute too:
https://x.com/stevestaley/status/1973428611027022260