National News posted Oct 1, 2020 @ 02:00pm by Megan Trudeau

Funeral for former prime minister John Turner to be held next week

The Government of Canada has announced that a funeral for former Prime Minister John Turner will be held next week in Toronto.

John Napier Wyndham Turner passed away on Sept. 19, 2020 at age 91, making him one of the four longest lived prime ministers.

<who>Photo credit: Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

A church service is scheduled to take place on Oct. 6, 2020 at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica in Toronto.

The ceremony is by invitation only and will strictly follow public health COVID-19 protocols on mask wearing, sanitizing, physical distancing and congregating, the government said.

Elected as a Liberal MP in 1962, he joined Lester B. Pearson’s cabinet and later, under Pierre Trudeau, occupied senior positions as Minister of Justice (1968-1972) and Minister of Finance (1972-1975).

After leaving politics in 1975, Mr. Turner resumed his former profession in corporate law.

Returning to politics in 1984 following Pierre Trudeau’s retirement, he won the Liberal party leadership and became Canada’s 17th Prime Minister.