Premier Caroline Cochrane issued the following statement on the passing of former Prime Minister John Turner:

It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of former Prime Minister John Turner over the weekend.

Mr. Turner cared deeply about Canadians, spending decades as a Cabinet Minister under Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau with a focus on protecting the most vulnerable of our society. As Justice Minister to Trudeau, he improved rights for the LGBTQ+ community as part of Trudeau’s goal of taking the state out of the bedrooms of the nation. He made provisions in the justice system for legal abortions to take place in hospitals. He lead the efforts to ensure the rights of French Canadians were enshrined in the Officials Languages Act of 1969.

In February 1970, he established the Law Reform Commission of Canada, to look at ways to improve the justice system to ensure a more fair and equitable process for all Canadians. He was instrumental in being the first Justice Minister to provide funding for legal aid in Canada, something that was near and dear to his heart. He strongly believed everyone had the right to a fair trial, regardless of his or her socio-economic status.

While his time as Prime Minister was short-lived Mr. Turner’s impact on Canadians cannot be overstated. He has impacted the lives of some of the most vulnerable and marginalized, and paved the way for many who came after him.