TRUDEAU REMEMBERS ''GREAT CANADIAN'' JOHN TURNER AT SCALED-BACK STATE FUNERAL
Oct 06, 2020
By Bob Komsic
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”Today, more than ever, we need people like John.”
The words of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who spoke at a scaled-back state funeral for former prime minister John Turner, who died September 19 at the age of 91.
”His legacy calls on us to not wait for change to happen, but to stand up and build a better country for everyone.”
Calling him a ”great Canadian,” Trudeau told mourners at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica that Turner fought tirelessly to build a more just country and to protect the environment.
Due to COVID-19, public health protocols were followed by the approximately 160 invited guests, including former Conservative prime minister Kim Campbell, former Liberal cabinet minister Ralph Goodale and former governor-general David Johnston.
Only 31 state funerals have been held since Confederation, including 12 for prime ministers, seven for governors-general and eight for cabinet ministers.
The last state funeral for a prime minister was for Pierre Trudeau in 2000.