Walter McLean

Who is Walter McLean?

Walter Franklin McLean, PC is a former Canadian politician.

Born in Leamington, Ontario, he grew up in Victoria British Columbia, the son of James Walter Lewis McLean, a Presbyterian minister, and Frances D. Blair McLean. He studied at the University of British Columbia, and Toronto's Knox College. Walter and his wife Barbara, were designated as presbyterian missionaries; Walter was the first CUSO coordinator in Nigeria in 1962.

Following the Biafran War in Nigeria, the McLeans returned to Canada, and settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Walter was involved in that province's Centennial Celebrations in 1970.

In 1971, the family moved to Waterloo Ontario, and Walter became the Minister of Knox Church, and involved in local affairs. He was elected as a Progressive Conservative Party candidate in the 1979 federal election in the riding of Waterloo. He was re-elected in the 1980, 1984 and 1988 elections.

From 1984 to 1985, he was Secretary of State for Canada, and from 1985 to 1986, he was Minister of State.

He has represented Canada as the Parliamentary Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, and as Special Representative for African and Commonwealth Affairs.