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{{Short description|Canadian politician (1950–2025)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = John McCallum
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|size=100%}}
| image               = John McCallum in 2016 (cropped).jpg
| alt                 = McCallum in 2015
| caption             = McCallum in 2016
| office              = [[List of ambassadors of Canada to China|Canadian Ambassador to China]]
| term_start          = 18 March 2017
| term_end            = 26 January 2019
| primeminister       = [[Justin Trudeau]]
| predecessor         = Guy Saint-Jacques
| successor           = [[Dominic Barton]]
| office1             = [[Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship]]
| term_start1         = 4 November 2015
| term_end1           = 10 January 2017
| primeminister1      = [[Justin Trudeau]]
| predecessor1        = [[Chris Alexander (politician)|Chris Alexander]]
| successor1          = [[Ahmed Hussen]]
| office2             = [[Minister of National Revenue (Canada)|Minister of National Revenue]]
| term_start2         = 19 July 2004
| term_end2           = 5 February 2006
| primeminister2      = [[Paul Martin]]
| predecessor2        = [[Stan Keyes]]
| successor2          = [[Carol Skelton]]
| office3             = [[Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Veterans Affairs]]
| term_start3         = 12 December 2003
| term_end3           = 19 July 2004
| primeminister3      = [[Paul Martin]]
| predecessor3        = [[Rey Pagtakhan]]
| successor3          = [[Albina Guarnieri]]
| office4             = [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|Minister of National Defence]]
| term_start4         = 26 May 2002
| term_end4           = 11 December 2003
| primeminister4      = [[Jean Chrétien]]
| predecessor4        = [[Art Eggleton]]
| successor4          = [[David Pratt (politician)|David Pratt]]
| riding5             = [[Markham—Thornhill (federal electoral district)|Markham—Thornhill]]
| parliament5         = Canadian
| term_start5         = 19 October 2015
| term_end5           = 1 February 2017
| predecessor5        = ''Constituency established''
| successor5          = [[Mary Ng]]
| riding6             = [[Markham—Unionville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Unionville]]<br /><small>[[Markham (federal electoral district)|Markham]] (2000–2004)</small>
| parliament6         = Canadian
| term_start6         = 27 November 2000
| term_end6           = 19 October 2015
| predecessor6        = [[Jim Jones (Canadian politician)|Jim Jones]]
| successor6          = [[Bob Saroya]]
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=yes|1950|04|09}}
| birth_place         = [[Montreal, Quebec]], Canada
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2025|06|21|1950|04|09}}
| death_place         = [[Mississauga, Ontario]], Canada
| alma_mater          = [[Queens' College, Cambridge]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[Pantheon-Sorbonne University|Université de Paris I]] ([[:fr:Diplôme d'études supérieures en France|DES]])<br />[[McGill University]] (PhD)
| party               = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
| profession          = Economist
| spouse              = Nancy Lim ({{lang|zh|林秀英}})
| children            = 3 sons
| residence           = [[Oakville, Ontario]], Canada
| footnotes           = 
}}
{{Chinese
| title = John McCallum<br /><small>[[Chinese name]]</small>
| t = 麥家廉
| s = 麦家廉
| p = Mài Jiālián
| l = [[Mai (Chinese surname)]] Home-Incorruptible
| altname = Chinese translation of "John McCallum"
| t2 = 約翰·麥考姆
| s2 = 约翰·麦考姆
| p2 = Yuēhàn Màikǎomǔ
| l2 = [[John (given name)|Yohan]] [[McCallum (surname)|McCallum]]
| order = st
}}

'''John McCallum''' {{postnom|PC}} (9 April 1950 – 21 June 2025) was a Canadian politician, economist, diplomat and university professor. A onetime [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] [[House of Commons of Canada|Member of Parliament]] ([[Member of Parliament (Canada)|MP]]), McCallum served as the [[List of ambassadors of Canada to China|Canadian Ambassador to China]] from 2017 until being asked to resign by Prime Minister Trudeau in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/justin-trudeau-canada-fire-chinese-ambassador-john-mccallum-huawei-meng-wanzhou-a8748596.html |title = Justin Trudeau fires Canadian ambassador to China over Huawei executive extradition remarks |date = 26 January 2019 |work = The Independent |access-date = 27 January 2019 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/03/29/canadas-new-ambassador-to-beijing-says-ottawa-open-to-more-more-more.html Canada’s new ambassador to Beijing says Ottawa open to ‘more, more, more’]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', 29 March 2017.</ref> As an MP, he represented the electoral district of [[Markham—Thornhill (federal electoral district)|Markham—Thornhill]] and had previously represented [[Markham—Unionville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Unionville]] and [[Markham (federal electoral district)|Markham]]. He was a member of the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada]].

A veteran federal politician who began his political career in 2000, McCallum served in the governments of Liberal prime ministers [[Jean Chrétien]], [[Paul Martin]], and [[Justin Trudeau]]. McCallum was previously appointed [[Secretary of State (Canada)|Secretary of State]] (International Financial Institutions), [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|Minister of National Defence]], [[Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Veterans Affairs]], and [[Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship]].

== Early life and education ==
McCallum was born in [[Montreal]], Quebec, the son of Joan (Patteson) and Alexander Campbell McCallum.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://necrologie.genealogiequebec.com/avis-de-deces/896503-MCCALLUM-Alexander-Campbell |title = Alexander Campbell MCCALLUM |website = necrologie.genealogiequebec.com |access-date = 11 January 2017 |archive-date = 13 January 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170113092234/http://necrologie.genealogiequebec.com/avis-de-deces/896503-MCCALLUM-Alexander-Campbell |url-status = dead}}</ref> He received his secondary education at [[Selwyn House School]] and [[Trinity College School]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.selwyn.ca/podium/default.aspx?t=204&nid=1006021 |title = John McCallum '67 appointed to cabinet |date = 6 November 2015 |website = selwyn.ca }}</ref> He held a Bachelor of Arts degree from [[Queens' College, Cambridge|Queens' College]], [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]], a ''[[:fr:Diplôme d'études supérieures en France|diplôme d'études supérieures]]'' from ''[[Pantheon-Sorbonne University|Université de Paris I]]'', and a PhD degree in economics from [[McGill University]].<ref>[https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/hq37vp248 "Agriculture and economic development in Quebec and Ontario to 1870"]. ''[[McGill University]]'', 1977.</ref>

== Academic career (1976–1994) ==
McCallum spent his initial working years in Winnipeg, working as a civil servant for NDP Premier Ed Schreyer and as a professor of economics at the [[University of Manitoba]] from 1976 until 1978. He taught at [[Simon Fraser University]] from 1978 until 1982, at the ''[[Université du Québec à Montréal]]'' from 1982 until 1987, and return to McGill University in 1987. He served as McGill's dean of arts when his future boss [[Justin Trudeau]] was a student there.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |url = https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2019/01/26/nobody-is-feeling-good-about-john-mccallums-departure-says-pmo-source.html |title = 'Nobody is feeling good about' John McCallum's departure, says PMO source |last = Delacourt |first = Susan |date = 26 January 2019 |newspaper = [[Toronto Star]] |access-date = 26 January 2019 }}</ref> He was an honorary member of the [[Royal Military College of Canada]], student {{Numero|S139}}. 

One of his most influential academic contributions was an article in the ''[[American Economic Review]]'',<ref>{{cite journal |last = McCallum |first = John |year = 1995 |title = National Borders Matter: Canada–U.S. Regional Trade Patterns |journal = [[The American Economic Review]] |volume = 85 |issue = 3 |pages = 615–623 |jstor = 2118191 }}</ref> which introduced the concept of the [[home bias in trade puzzle]]. It has spawned an ongoing international debate {{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} on whether trade within a [[nation state]] is greater than trade among nations, as compared with the predictions of standard [[economic model]]s.

As [[McGill University]]'s dean of arts, McCallum secured a $10 million contribution from [[Charles Bronfman]] for the establishment of the [[McGill Institute for the Study of Canada]].<ref>"McGill gets $10 million for studies on Canada". ''The Gazette'' (Montreal), 16 June 1993, p.&nbsp;A4.</ref> He also participated in the national unity debates of the early 1990s, editing the Canada Round Series of the [[C. D. Howe Institute]] and engaged in debate with then [[List of leaders of the opposition of Quebec|Opposition Leader]] [[Jacques Parizeau]] at [[National Assembly of Quebec|Quebec's National Assembly]].<ref>"Anti-Quebec vitriol aids PQ: economist McGill professor, Pequiste chief Parizeau wage war of charts". ''The Gazette'' (Montreal), 5 December 1991, p.&nbsp;A9.</ref> He left McGill to become senior vice-president and chief economist of the [[Royal Bank of Canada]] in 1994.

== Royal Bank of Canada's Chief Economist (1994–2000) ==
McCallum was the [[Royal Bank of Canada]]'s chief economist for six years. He consistently achieved the highest media coverage of bank chief economists, making regular appearances on [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]'s [[The National (TV program)|''The National'']] as an economics panellist. With these media appearance he developed a reputation for cogent outspokenness. His frank assessment early in his tenure attributing Canada's high unemployment to Bank of Canada tight money policy, while generally uncontentious from an academic standpoint, was noted as surprising by both mainstream and financial sector journalists.

He also engaged in social issues, notably a 1997 Royal Bank conference designed to align the business community with the recommendations of the 1996 Report on the [[Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples]]. His paper at that conference, "The Cost of Doing Nothing", was highlighted ten years later in the ''Aboriginal Times'' magazine.<ref>''Aboriginal Times'', Vol. 12, Issue 4, May–June 2007.</ref>

== Parliamentary career ==

=== Member of Parliament (2000–17) ===
In the week immediately before the call of the [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000 federal election]], McCallum was announced as the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]]'s star candidate for the electoral district of [[Markham (federal electoral district)|Markham]], one of only two seats in Ontario (out of 103) the party failed to win in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|previous election held in 1997]]. McCallum handily defeated the incumbent MP [[Jim Jones (Canadian politician)|Jim Jones]], who was elected as a [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] but was expelled for accepting the endorsement from the rival party [[Canadian Alliance]].

With York Region's rapid population growth, McCallum had his electoral district redistributed to and forming the majority of two successor districts twice during his parliamentary career. He was re-elected in [[Markham—Unionville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Unionville]], one of the two successor districts of Markham, in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. He won the first three elections with comfortable margins, and was one of only eleven Ontario Liberal MPs who survived the [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011 election]], retaining the seat in a tightly contested race against future Conservative MP [[Bob Saroya]]. His district was again divided in at the 2015 election when he was re-elected in Markham—Thornhill.

For a brief four month period in late 2001, McCallum served as a [[parliamentary secretary]] to [[Minister of Finance (Canada)|Finance Minister]] and future Prime Minister [[Paul Martin]]. He was elevated to cabinet by Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]] in January 2002, initially as [[Secretary of state (Canada)|Secretary of State]] (International Financial Institution).

=== Minister of National Defence (2002–03) ===
Only four months into his cabinet tenure, McCallum was promoted to be [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|Minister of National Defence]] in May 2002, succeeding [[Art Eggleton]] who had offered his resignation upon findings by the Prime Minister's [[Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner|ethics counsellor]] that he had breached ministerial conflict of interests guidelines.

As Defence Minister, McCallum achieved what was then the largest increase in the annual defence budget ($1 billion) in more than a decade in return for offering up $200 million in savings from reducing low priority spending.<ref>The Budget Plan 2003, p.&nbsp;163.</ref> He also retroactively reversed an inequity which awarded up to $250,000 to military personnel who lost their eyesight or a limb while on active service - but only to those with the rank of [[colonel]] or above. Now all Canadian Forces members are covered by the plan regardless of rank.<ref>Bill C-44, An Act to compensate military members injured during service, 37th Parliament, 2nd session.</ref> Working with Germany, he successfully persuaded [[NATO]] to take control over the security mission in [[Kabul]], [[Afghanistan]], while also ensuring that the mission was led by Canada.<ref>Canadian troops to be deployed to Afghanistan: 2,000 soldiers to join NATO force in Kabul; National Post 6 May 2003, p.&nbsp;A4.</ref> He also determined that the army, rather than the navy or air force, was to be the top priority in budget allocations.<ref>McCallum sets top priorities; Hill Times, 8 September 2003, p&nbsp;1.</ref>

He became widely known and criticized in 2002 when he admitted, while serving as the Minister of National Defence, that he had never heard of the 1942 [[Dieppe raid]], a fateful and nationally significant operation for Canadian Forces during the [[Second World War]].<ref>{{cite web |title = MQUP prank |url = https://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/35/01/mqup/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030921193305/http://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/35/01/mqup/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = 21 September 2003 }}</ref> Ironically, he wrote a letter to the editor of the [[National Post]] in response, but committed a further gaffe, confusing Canadian participation in the 1917 [[Battle of Vimy Ridge]] in France with [[Vichy France]] from 1940 to 1944. Response at the continued historical ignorance prompted outrage and humour among the press.

In November 2002, while still serving as Defence Minister, McCallum encountered further controversy when officials refused to allow him to board an [[Air Canada]] flight because his breath smelt heavily of alcohol. McCallum announced soon thereafter that the incident prompted him to abstain completely from alcohol consumption. He reportedly also intended to lose weight and give up smoking.<ref>{{cite news |last = Lunman |first = Kim |title = McCallum on the wagon after incident at airport |newspaper = [[The Globe and Mail]] |location = Toronto, Ontario |page = A13 |date = 29 November 2002 }}</ref>

In January 2003, McCallum suggested Canadian troops could avoid so-called "[[friendly fire]]" incidents by wearing some of female Conservative MP [[Elsie Wayne]]'s clothes.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/defence-minister-apologizes-twice-for-insensitive-remarks-1.400273 |title = Defence minister apologizes twice for insensitive remarks |date = 29 January 2003 |publisher=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> McCallum later apologized both inside and outside the House of Commons for using inappropriate language, blaming the excitement of the moment, and had his apologies accepted by Wayne.<ref name=":0" />

===Veterans Affairs Minister (2003–04) & Revenue Minister (2004–06)===
When [[27th Canadian Ministry|Paul Martin became Prime Minister]] in late 2003, McCallum was among the eight members of the outgoing Chretien cabinet who stayed on. He was however shuffled to the lower profile role of [[Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Veterans Affairs]]. As Veterans Affairs Minister, McCallum introduced a new charter for younger, postwar veterans who have been physically or mentally injured while serving in the Canadian Forces. This charter, which became law in 2005, is modelled on the range of services provided for returning veterans after World War II. This "new model" stripped veterans of a monthly pension opting for a lump sum payment.{{citation needed|reason=Not found|date=November 2015}}

Following the 2004 election which reduced the Liberal government to minority, McCallum was further reassigned to be [[Minister of National Revenue (Canada)|Minister of National Revenue]] and Minister responsible for [[Canada Post]]. During this period, he was a member of the [[Treasury Board of Canada|Treasury Board]] and chaired its Expenditure Review Sub-Committee, where he achieved in 2005 expenditure reductions of $11 billion over the next five years.<ref>"McCallum on the hunt for $1-billion more in savings". ''Hill Times'', 5 March 2005, p.&nbsp;56.</ref> McCallum took on additional responsibility acting [[Minister of Natural Resources (Canada)|natural resources minister]] in the month leading up to the 2006 election when incumbent Minister [[John Efford]] was in ill health. 

=== Opposition Years (2006–15) ===
With the Liberals' defeated in the [[2006 Canadian federal election| 2006 federal election]], McCallum took a prominent seat on the opposition front bench as finance critic under interim leader [[Bill Graham (Canadian politician)|Bill Graham]]. Despite being an early supporter of [[Michael Ignatieff]]'s unsuccessful [[2006 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|2006 leadership bid]], McCallum retained his role as finance critic under [[Stéphane Dion]] and later under Ignatieff. He also served as transport critic for a period under Ignatieff.

The Liberals suffered its worst electoral defeat in the 2011 election, when its caucus was reduced to third party status. In the substantially reduced caucus under interim leader [[Bob Rae]], McCallum served simultaneously as critic to three ministers - Treasury Board, Public Works & Government Services, and Human Resources and Skills Development. 

Upon [[Justin Trudeau]]'s election as Liberal leader, McCallum was appointed as the immigration critic. During his time in the opposition, McCallum began to travel extensively to China at the expense of Beijing-friendly groups. McCallum took trips valued at $73,300 from pro-Beijing business groups, such as the Canadian Confederation of Fujian Associations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fife |first1=Robert |last2=Chase |first2=Steven |last3=VanderKlippe |first3=Nathan |title=Ottawa's man in China: Who was McCallum and what was his strategy? |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-ottawas-man-in-china-mccallum-an-ambassador-like-no-other/ |work=The Globe and Mail |date=25 January 2019 |language=en-CA}}</ref>

[[File:Secretary Johnson Travels to Canada (30755036335).jpg|thumb|265x265px|McCallum meets with [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security]] [[Jeh Johnson]] in Ottawa on 27 October 2016.]]

=== Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (2015–17) ===
When the Liberals were returned to power in November 2015, McCallum was appointed [[Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship]] in the [[29th Canadian Ministry]] of [[Justin Trudeau]].<ref name="CbCTrudeauCabinet2015-11-04">{{cite news |url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/full-list-of-justin-trudeau-s-cabinet-1.3300699 |title = Full list of Justin Trudeau's cabinet: 31-member cabinet includes 15 women, attempt at regional balance |publisher = [[CBC News]] |date = 4 November 2015 }}</ref> He was one of six members of the new cabinet with previous cabinet experience, and was listed in an [[Order in Council|order-in-council]] as the fourth-in-line to act in the event of the prime minister being unable to perform his duty, reflecting his standing as the cabinet members with the fourth longest tenure as a member of the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada|Queen's Privy Council]].<ref name="Cabinet name changes">{{cite web |url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-cabinet-fine-print-details-buried-1.3307475 |title = Justin Trudeau's cabinet: 6 changes found in the fine print |publisher = [[CBC News]] |date = 7 November 2015 |access-date = 7 November 2015 |last = McGregor |first = Janyce }}</ref> As Immigration Minister, he oversaw the intake of Syrian refugees during the [[Syrian refugee crisis]].<ref name=":1" />

=== Notable stances ===
McCallum successfully nominated [[Nelson Mandela]] as the second honorary citizen in Canadian history.<ref>"Nelson Mandela, Citizen". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', 14 June 2001, p.&nbsp;A32.</ref>

McCallum was quite vocal in [[Same-sex marriage in Canada|Canada's debate on same-sex marriage]]. He told the ''Edmonton Sun'' in August 2003, "If people want to do something and it doesn't hurt other people, doesn't reduce other people's rights, we should let them do it. Why not?"<ref>''[[Edmonton Sun]]'', 13 August 2003.</ref> He also significantly contributed to the final debate before the vote on same-sex marriage on 21 March 2005<ref>{{cite web |url = http://ww4.equal-marriage.ca/ |title = equal-marriage.ca |website = ww4.equal-marriage.ca |access-date = 24 January 2019 |archive-date = 24 January 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190124203348/http://ww4.equal-marriage.ca/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> saying:
<blockquote>I believe we should always seek to expand the rights of our fellow citizens as long as we do not thereby reduce the rights of others. We should seek to ensure that no group is denied full participation in society. As members of Parliament, we should not ask the question, why should we extend this right? Rather our question should be, why should we not extend the right? Let the burden of proof be on those who wish to limit fundamental rights.
...
Many Canadians will want to accept both of these principles: protect the traditional definition of marriage and protect the rights of minorities. The essence of my message today is that we cannot do both. We cannot have it both ways. We must make a choice between traditional marriage and the protection of minority rights.</blockquote>

== Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (2017–19) ==
On 10 January 2017, it was announced that McCallum and [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|foreign minister]] [[Stéphane Dion]] would step down from cabinet, respectively to become Canada's Ambassadors to the People's Republic of China and to the European Union.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://ca.news.yahoo.com/chrystia-freeland-becomes-foreign-minister-as-trudeau-shuffles-cabinet-181805559.html |title = Chrystia Freeland becomes foreign minister as Trudeau shuffles cabinet |publisher = [[CBC News]] |date = 10 January 2017 |access-date = 10 January 2017}}</ref> 

McCallum expressed eagerness to take on the posting in Beijing, citing his strong personal connections to China, as his former riding [[Markham, Ontario|Markham]] has primarily Chinese constituents and both his wife and children are of Chinese ethnicity.<ref name="cbc.ca">{{cite web | title=John McCallum fired as ambassador to China amid diplomatic crisis - CBC News | publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | date=23 January 2019 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mccallum-out-ambassador-1.4994492 | access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref>

On 23 January 2019, McCallum spoke to Canadian and state-owned Chinese media in [[Markham, Ontario|Markham]], Ontario,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/john-mccallum-extradition-meng-china-1.4989670 |title=Archived copy |website=www.cbc.ca |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124122548/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/john-mccallum-extradition-meng-china-1.4989670 |archive-date=24 January 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> concerning the detention and extradition request by the United States, which resulted in the arrest of [[Huawei]] deputy chairwoman [[Meng Wanzhou]],<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46483337 |title = Timeline: What's going on with Huawei?|date = 18 January 2019 |work = BBC}}</ref> who was awaiting court judgement. The United States alleged that [[Meng Wanzhou]] was in violation of the United States sanctions against Iran. The Canadian Federal government reaffirmed that it is obliged to follow judicial protocol and that the arrest was not political in nature. McCallum shared his thoughts with the media by restating public facts that could make Meng's legal defence case strong against this extradition request. This included President Donald Trump's political intrusion, which allegedly undermined the integrity of the Canadian judicial protocol, thereby contradicting Canada's stance by making it political in nature.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46533971 |title = Trump could intervene in Huawei court case |date = 12 December 2018 |work = BBC}}</ref> McCallum re-stated other reported motives the United States could have, citing the alleged intent of the arrest by the United States was to attempt to obtain trade concessions from China. McCallum withdrew his comments, saying he "misspoke" and that they did "not accurately represent {{interp|his|orig=my}} position on this issue".<ref name="CBC20180124">{{cite web |url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mccallum-apology-withdraw-remarks-1.4992028 |access-date = 25 January 2018 |date = 24 January 2018 |title = China envoy McCallum walks back comments on Meng Wanzhou case |publisher = CBC News |first = Peter |last = Zimonjic }}</ref> That week, McCallum was further quoted as later telling a Toronto Star journalist it "would be great for Canada" if the U.S. extradition request were dropped, conditional on release of Canadians since detained in China.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.thestar.com/vancouver/2019/01/25/it-would-be-great-for-canada-if-us-drops-extradition-request-for-huaweis-meng-wanzhou-ambassador-says.html |title = Ambassador John McCallum says it would be 'great for Canada' if U.S. drops extradition request for Huawei's Meng Wanzhou |date = 25 January 2019 |work = Toronto Star |access-date = 26 January 2019 }}</ref>

On 26 January 2019, McCallum submitted his resignation as ambassador to China at the request of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who did not disclose the reasoning behind this decision.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-fires-john-mccallum-as-ambassador-to-china-1.4994492 |title = Trudeau fires John McCallum as ambassador to China |date = 26 January 2019 |publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref><ref name="cbc.ca"/>

== Post public offices (2019 onward) == 
McCallum advised and represented various private enterprises engaging in business dealing in China in later years. He was affiliated with law firm [[McMillan LLP]], where Martin era [[Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (Canada)|PMO Chief of Staff]] [[Tim Murphy (Canadian politician)|Tim Murphy]] was managing partner.

In July 2020, McCallum's employment by the Wailian Group, a Chinese company that assists with immigration to Canada, sparked calls from oppositions MPs and [[Democracy Watch (Canada)|Democracy Watch]] for McCallum to be investigated by the [[Ethics Commissioner (Canada)|Ethics Commissioner]] for potential breaches of the Conflict of Interest Act.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Chase|first1=Steven|last2=VanderKlippe|first2=Nathan|date=31 July 2020|title=Critics call for ethics probe of ex-ambassador's work at Chinese immigration company|work=The Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-critics-call-for-ethics-probe-of-ex-ambassadors-work-at-chinese/|access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life and death ==
McCallum was married to Nancy Lim, who is of [[Malaysian Chinese]] background ({{zh |c = 林秀英 |p = Lín Xiùyīng }}). They have three sons (Andrew, Jamie, and Duncan).<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2016/01/28/john-mccallum-honoured-to-be-at-helm-of-syrian-refugee-file.html |title = John McCallum 'honoured' to be at helm of Syrian refugee file |first = Debra |last = Black |date = 28 January 2016 |newspaper = [[Toronto Star]]}}</ref>

McCallum died at [[Credit Valley Hospital]] in Mississauga, Ontario, on 21 June 2025, at the age of 75.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 2025 |title=Former cabinet minister John McCallum dead at 75 |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/former-cabinet-minister-john-mccallum-dead-at-75/ |access-date=22 June 2025 |publisher=[[CTV News]]}}</ref> The cause of death was lung cancer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 June 2025 |title=Liberal cabinet minister John McCallum often found himself engulfed in controversy |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-john-mccallum-liberal-cabinet-minister-obituary/ |access-date=1 July 2025 |publisher=The Globe and Mail}}</ref>

== Electoral record ==
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2015|Markham—Thornhill (federal electoral district)|Markham—Thornhill|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|John McCallum|23,878|55.72|+18.61|$78,406.90}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Jobson Easow|13,849|32.31|&minus;4.08|$128,323.59}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Senthi Chelliah|4,595|10.72|&minus;12.67|$48,598.52}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Joshua Russell|535|1.25|&minus;1.37|–}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|42,857|100.00|&nbsp;|$203,953.81}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|240|0.56|–}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|43,097|61.14|–}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|70,484}}
{{CANelec/nothold|CA|Liberal|+11.34}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Canada]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/candidates?L=e&ED=35055&EV=41&EV_TYPE=1&PC=&PROV=ON&PROVID=35&MAPID=&QID=8&PAGEID=17&TPAGEID=&PD=&STAT_CODE_ID=-1 |title=Voter Information Service - Who are the candidates in my electoral district?|website=elections.ca }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.ca/error.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/content2.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045200/http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand%2Fcanlim&document=index&lang=e|url-status=dead|title=Error page|first=Elections|last=Canada|archive-date=4 March 2016|website=elections.ca}}</ref>|}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2011|Markham—Unionville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Unionville|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|John McCallum|19,429|38.9|&minus;16.0|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Bob Saroya|17,734|35.5|+5.3|}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Nadine Hawkins|10,897|21.8|+11.6|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Adam Poon|1,597|3.2|&minus;1.0|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Libertarian|Allen Small|231|0.5|–|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|49,888|100.0|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots| 290| 0.6|–| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|50,178 |55.1 |+2.8 | }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|  91,057 |–|–| }}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|Liberal|&minus;10.65}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2008|Markham—Unionville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Unionville|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|John McCallum| 25,195 | 54.9 | &minus;6.7 |$58,875}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Duncan Fletcher| 13,855 | 30.2 | +3.2 |$58,523}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Nadine Hawkins| 4,682 |10.2 | +2.2 |$4,250}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Leonard Aitken| 1,931 | 4.2 | +2.0|$2,524}}
{{CANelec|CA|Libertarian|Allen Small| 229 | 0.5 | N/A |$348}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit| 45,892 |100.0|$90,945}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|–| 52.31}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|Liberal|&minus;4.95}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2006|Markham—Unionville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Unionville|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|John McCallum|32,797|61.6|&minus;4.7 }}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Joe Li|14,357|27.0|+4.5 }}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Janice Hagan|4,266|8.0| &minus;0.7}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Wesley Weese|1,151|2.2| &minus;0.3}}
{{CANelec|CA|Progressive Canadian|Fayaz Choudhary|363 |0.7|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Partap Dua|297|0.6|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|53,231|100.0 }}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|Liberal|&minus;4.6}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2004|Markham—Unionville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Unionville|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|John McCallum|30,442|66.3}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Joe Li|10,325|22.5}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Janice Hagan|3,993|8.7}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Ed Wong|1,148|2.5}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 45,908|100.0}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2000|Markham (federal electoral district)|Markham|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|John McCallum| 32,104 |66.6 |+29.9 }}
{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Alliance|[[Jim Jones (Canadian politician)|Jim Jones]]| 9,015 |18.7 |+7.9}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|[[David Scrymgeour]]|5,085 |10.6 |&minus;34.1 }}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Janice Hagan|1,129 |2.3 |&minus;0.9  }}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Bernadette Manning|493 |1.0 |–  }}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|[[Akber Choudhry]]|222 |0.5 |–  }}
{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Action|Jim Conrad|130 |0.3 |&minus;0.2 }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 48,178|100.0}}
{{CANelec/gain|CA|Liberal|PC|+32.0}}
{{end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last = McCallum |first = John |author-mask = 1 |year = 1980 |title = Unequal Beginnings: Agriculture and Economic Development in Quebec and Ontario until 1870 |url = https://archive.org/details/unequalbeginning0000mcca_i3l3 |url-access = registration |location = Toronto, Ontario |publisher = [[University of Toronto Press]] |isbn = 0-8020-5455-2 }}
* {{cite book |last1 = Barber |first1 = Clarence |author1-link = Clarence Barber |last2 = McCallum |first2 = John |author-mask2 = 1 |year = 1980 |title = Unemployment and Inflation: The Canadian Experience |url =https://archive.org/details/unemploymentinfl0000barb|url-access = registration |location= Toronto, Ontario |publisher = James Lorimer Limited |series = Canadian Institute for Economic Policy |isbn = 0-88862-293-7 }}
* {{cite book |last1 = Barber |first1 = Clarence |author1-link = Clarence Barber |last2 = McCallum |first2= John |author-mask2 = 1 |year = 1982 |title = Controlling Inflation: Learning from Experience in Canada, Europe and Japan |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PTqhqp3QRWsC&pg=PP1 |location = Toronto, Ontario |publisher = James Lorimer Limited |series = Canadian Institute for Economic Policy |isbn = 0-88862-587-1 }}
* {{cite book |last1 = McCallum |first1 = John |author-mask1 = 1 |last2 = Green |first2 = Christopher |year = 1991 |title = Parting as Friends: The Economic Consequences for Quebec |location= Toronto, Ontario |publisher = [[C. D. Howe Institute]] |series = Canada Round |issn = 1183-6253 |isbn = 0-88806289-3 }}
* {{cite book |editor1-last = Baldassarri|editor1-first= Mario|editor1-link= Mario Baldassarri |editor2-last= McCallum |editor2-first = John|editor3-last= Mundell |editor3-first = Robert |editor3-link = Robert Mundell |year = 1992 |title = Global Disequilibrium in the World Economy |publisher = [[Palgrave Macmillan]] |series = Central Issues in Contemporary Economic Theory and Policy |isbn = 0-31207984-2 }}

== External links ==
* {{Official website | http://www.johnmccallum.ca/ }}
* {{cite web |url = http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=mcaulay&t=41785&d=1424 |title = Canadian Who's Who 1997 entry |access-date = 1 May 2006 }}
* {{Canadian Parliament links |ID = 16043 }}

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