China News Agency, Toronto, September 19 (Reporter Yu Ruidong) Former Canadian Prime Minister John Turner died in Toronto on the evening of September 18 local time at the age of 91.
Turner served as prime minister for 79 days from June to September 1984, and is Canada's second-shortest prime minister in history.
But he is not a general guest in Canadian politics.
Canadian television reports described Turner's life as a "legend".
Turner was born in England in 1929.
After the death of his father, he moved to Ottawa, Canada with his mother when he was young.
He became a track star while studying political science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
In 1947, he set a national record for 100-yard dash.
He was qualified for the 1948 Olympic Games, but unfortunately he could not go to the competition due to a car accident.
He worked as a lawyer and was elected to the Canadian House of Representatives in 1962 and entered the political arena.
At that time, the young and handsome he was called "Canada's Kennedy".
He has served as Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Minister of Justice and Minister of Finance.
In early 1976, he chose to leave the political arena temporarily and return to the lawyer career.
Turner returned in 1984 and was elected as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. He succeeded Pierre Trudeau without being a member of Congress and became the 17th and 23rd Prime Minister of Canada.
However, in the general election held in September of the same year, the Liberal Party was defeated and its term as prime minister also ended.
He served as the leader of the Liberal Party until 1990 and handed over to Jean Chretien.
The Canadian News Agency reported that the bad timing prevented Turner from fully realizing his potential as prime minister.
The current Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor Julie Payette respectively issued statements on the evening of the 19th to express condolences to Turner.
Trudeau praised Turner as a gifted politician, lawyer and athlete; he is also a humble man with a strong social conscience.
Payette said Turner's career spanned one of the most turbulent periods in modern Canadian history.
The reforms he advocated still affect the current political arena, especially in areas such as free trade and gender equality.
The Parliament Buildings in Ottawa lowered the flag at half mast for Turner's death.
The shortest prime minister in Canadian history to date is Charles Tapper, who served from May to July 1986, with a term of 69 days.
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