Beyond Politics - John Turner

John Turner served as Canada's 17th prime minister from June 30 to Sept. 17, 1984.
Born in England, Turner came to Canada when he was only three after his mother, a native of Rossland, BC, was left widowed by her husband's untimely death to malaria and was unable to find work in Depression-era London.
By all accounts his mother was a remarkable woman: Phyllis Ross was an economist, a civil servant and the first woman chancellor of the University of British Columbia.
Turner attended private schools in Ottawa, earned a BA from UBC, an MA from Oxford and did post-graduate work at the Sorbonne. Turner was first elected in the downtown Montreal riding of St. Lawrence--St. George in 1962 and in 1965 Lester Pearson named him to cabinet as minister without portfolio.
After Pierre Elliott Trudeau was elected leader in 1968, Turner was appointed justice minister and later finance minister. It was as finance minister that Turner faced his greatest political challenge. A dispute over wage and price controls compelled Turner to quit and for the next nine years Turner led a very successful and lucrative career as a Bay Street lawyer.
Lured back to politics by Trudeau's resignation and the possibility of becoming leader, Turner offered his candidacy to the Liberal party. Turner defeated Jean Chretien on the second ballot to become the 17th prime minister of Canada despite not having a seat in the Commons or the Senate.
Less than three months later, Turner was thumped in an election that saw the Liberal Party reduced to 40 seats. Four years later, the Liberals lost again, and despite having doubled the party's seat total to 83, Turner's position as leader was untenable. He stepped down as leader but continued to sit as an MP for Vancouver Quadra until 1993.
Turner returned to the private sector and only recently retired from the law firm Miller Thomson. Catherine Clark spoke to Turner about his life Beyond Politics.

[@ronaldomcdonaldo2926]

Thank you Mr. Turner for your honesty in this historic interview. When you take your last breath remember all who have served you.

[@lawrencewright2816]

Ronaldo McDonaldo It’s sad that a man of Turner’s personal accomplishment stooped to serving a piece of shit like Pierre Trudeau.

[@MichaelPhilipMaunes]

Condolences to John Turner's family. May Canada's golden boy and northern light rest in peace and be in the home of our Heavenly Father.

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

Watching this from the UK. I knew Turner was British-born.

[@eenusch9512]

What a terrific interviewer Catherine Clark (PM Joe Clark's daughter) shows herself to be - well done! However , John Turner is so halting in his replies, giving just enough but no more than necessary - no deep perspective or elaboration.

[@gcdcjccc]

Fascinating life..

[@t.b.g.504]

RIP John N. Turner.

[@michaeldoyle6702]

Great interview by Catherine Clark. I see Turner all the time in TO, most recently at a fine Christmas Concert at YorkMinster Baptist Church in December, 2015 with his protoge John McDermitt.

[@janetmaxwell222]

A nice interview...they had some nice touching points in the conversation as they rather ran in the same circles. Catherine did her homework here. She was a great interviewer. She was great at bringing people out. Where is she now?

[@ladangharimau5712]

Canada Lost a great, kind man with dignity on 18/09/2020. Rt Hon John Turner QC, Rest in Peace. Praying for him and his family members.

[@tcng9808]

Mr. Turner exhibited the equanimity of someone who was grateful for all the advantages he enjoyed during his entire life. But none of the bitterness of a failed leader of the Liberal Party. He lacked the common touch that could endear him to the common folks like Jesn Chritien. May his soul rest in peace

[@Moonrise361]

Interesting and smart man.

[@DragoonRyRs]

Rest in peace

[@michaeldoyle6702]

A much more interesting character than Chretien, who his frankly a bore in his retirement.