OTTAWA—A who’s who of Canadian politics turned out Saturday for the funeral of veteran Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger, a solemn service that ended on a joyful note — with mourners singing a rousing, gender-neutral rendition of O Canada. Article Continued Below“And we sang it with so much heart.”The casket of MP Mauril Belanger leaves the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica following his funeral on Saturday. Belanger, 61, who served as MP for Ottawa-Vanier since 1995, was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in November 2015. Catherine Belanger, wife of MP Mauril Belanger, is embraced by Sophie Gregoire Trudeau as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his mother Margaret Trudeau look on, during Belanger's funeral. “He was a remarkable guy because he always told you exactly what he thought — not always what you wanted to hear but it was what he wanted to tell you,” Rae said on his way into the funeral service.

Source: thestar August 27, 2016 17:22 UTC