Former PM brings red wave to Oshawa
Former Prime Minister John Turner, right, was in town recently to throw his support behind Liberal candidate Tito-Dante Marimpietri.
By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express
It was a full house at the campaign offices of Liberal candidate Tito-Dante Marimpietri as supporters came out to shake hands with one of the party’s greats.
Former Prime Minister John Turner was in Oshawa to throw his support behind Marimpietri as the marathon campaign period enters its final stretch.
“I’m delighted to be back here in Oshawa,” Turner said, mentioning he visited the area to campaign against former NDP party leader and Oshawa MP Ed Broadbent.
Turner was prime minister from June to September of 1984, the second-shortest tenure for the position. However, Turner was a big name in Ottawa for decades prior to his brief stint in office.
Holding several cabinet appointments, including Minister of Finance from 1972 to 1975, Turner also worked as the Minister of Justice for four years under Pierre Trudeau.
In a short speech to those in attendance, Turner stressed the importance of an open democratic process, something that is important now more than ever with 2015 being the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, one of the first and most influential democratic charters.
“This is a great town, a great community and you deserve to win an election and be part of a revitalized parliament,” Turner said.
Marimpietri said he was happy with the turnout at the evening event.
“It’s not very often a former prime minister comes to Oshawa,” he said
He also took the time to draw parallels between himself and the former PM, both of which fought for transparency and openness in government, with Marimpietri citing his time on Oshawa city council and Turner through his time in Ottawa.