I learned with great sadness on Saturday of the death of the Right Honourable John N. Turner, former Prime Minister of Canada and Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1984-1990. I wanted to take a moment to recognize some of Mr. Turner’s many contributions to our country.
Friend,
I learned with great sadness on Saturday of the death of the Right Honourable John N. Turner, former Prime Minister of Canada and Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1984–1990. I wanted to take a moment to recognize some of Mr. Turner’s many contributions to our country.
John always talked about Canada with a sense of hope and optimism. He believed that Canada is a country where we support each other, and where equality isn’t just a question of laws, but “a state of mind”.
A gifted politician, lawyer, and athlete, John became Canada’s 17th Prime Minister after having served in numerous other capacities, including as Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Minister of Finance, and also served as the Leader of the Opposition. He was deeply committed to the law and democratic process, bringing about much needed reforms to the Criminal Code.
John was a humble man with a strong social conscience. He supported many charitable organizations, including Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. He was also an honorary director of World Wildlife Fund Canada and an ardent advocate for the protection of Canada’s lakes and rivers.
He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1995, and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Canada in 2012.
I had a chance to catch up with John just last year on his 90th birthday, and he reminded us that all Canadians must play an active role in our democracy. He knew just how lucky we all are to call this country home, and he never wanted us to stop working on making this country better for everyone.
On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to John’s family and friends. His contributions to Canada will not be forgotten as we keep working together to build a better future.
