Former B.C. cabinet minister and well-known Vancouver radio broadcaster Rafe Mair has died at the age of 85.

A longtime colleague of Mair香蕉视频直播檚 said that he香蕉视频直播檒l be remembered as a hard-hitting interviewer who was tough but fair.

Shiral Tobin, who produced his show on CKNW, said Mair香蕉视频直播檚 doctor confirmed his death at around 6 a.m. Monday morning.

Tobin said Mair香蕉视频直播檚 health had been declining for a number of years, but that he had continued to write articles and appear as a radio panellist until recently.

She said Mair fought for indigenous rights, feminism, and the environment in his later years.

Mair香蕉视频直播檚 show on CKNW ran for almost two decades, and was known as one of the most popular radio programs in the province.

香蕉视频直播淗e was one of the best broadcasters in BC history,香蕉视频直播� said Tobin. 香蕉视频直播淗e used his radio talk show as a bully pulpit on behalf of the people of British Columbia.香蕉视频直播�

Rafe also wrote a column for Black Press in the early 2000s.

Mair香蕉视频直播檚 political career began in 1975 when he served as a MLA for Kamloops as a member of the B.C. Social Credit Party.

He also served as a cabinet minister in a variety of positions during Premier Bill Bennett香蕉视频直播檚 time in office. His career as a broadcaster began when he was 49 years old.

Mair was a recipient of multiple journalism awards, including the Michener Award for courageous journalism in 1995, and the B.C. Association of Broadcasters 香蕉视频直播淏roadcast Performer of the Year香蕉视频直播� award in 1993.

The Canadian Press