City Hall flags at half-staff in memory of Ottawa-Vanier MP Mauril Bélanger

OTTAWA —  Hundreds of mourners gathered in Ottawa, Saturday, for the funeral of Ottawa-Vanier MP Mauril Bélanger.

Bélanger died on August 15 following a nine-month battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

He was diagnosed with the disease not long after the Liberals swept to power in the fall election.

The flags at Ottawa City Hall were also flying at half-staff in his memory.

Bélanger did not have a state funeral, but there were a number of dignitaries attending the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica.

Among those attending were Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and former Governor General Michaëlle Jean.

Trudeau spoke at the funeral. He called Bélanger a true friend and a great parliamentarian.

Bélanger was first elected to the House of Commons in 1995 and won every election since then.

On March 9, Bélanger took over as Speaker of the House for one day – a position he had been vying for before having to drop out of the race because of his deteriorating condition.

In June, his private member’s bill to make the national anthem gender neutral passed by a vote of 225-74.

His family is asking mourners to support his legacy by contributing to the Mauril Bélanger Community Fund through the Community Foundation of Ottawa.

– with files from the Canadian Press

 

 

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