Following the Nigerian Civil War in Nigeria, the McLeans returned to Canada, and settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Walter was involved in that province's 1970 Centennial Celebrations.
From 1984 to 1985, he was Secretary of State for Canada, and from 1985 to 1986, he was Minister of State (Immigration).
He has represented Canada as the Parliamentary Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, and as Special Representative for African and Commonwealth Affairs.
Within the Presbytrerian Church in Canada, he is now a "Minister in Association" with Knox Waterloo. He was co-ordinator of the "Celebrate 125" festivities in 1999–2000. He was rewarded with a Doctor of Divinity degree from Knox College in 2002. His wife Barbara has also served in the Church as Presbytery Clerk in the Waterloo-Wellington Presbytery, and in the national Church as Deputy Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in Canada's General Assembly from 1992 to 2003.
1The department was eliminated in 1993 when the government was reorganized. The position of Secretary of State for Canada was not legally eliminated until 1996 when its remaining responsibilities were assigned to other cabinet positions and departments, particularly the newly created position of Minister of Canadian Heritage.