PAYING FINAL RESPECTS
Bernard Landry at Notre-Dame
For Touria Sakalli, coming to say farewell to Bernard Landry was the right thing to do. “When I emigrated here to Quebec (in 2001), he was my premier,” Sakalli said standing in line under a cold November sky waiting her turn to enter Notre-Dame Basilica, where Landry lay in state Monday. “I say God bless him. He was a good minister. He was someone I appreciated.” Others had more political reasons to come to see Landry, a man who espoused Quebec independence all his life. “He helped move Quebec forward as a nation,” said Denise Giguère, emerging from the church. “Above all, he said keep dreaming of a country.” Big name politicians and regular folks, friends and foes, and their outpouring of affection for Landry, a man who devoted his life to public service and the Quebec cause, continued unabated Monday. Landry, Quebec’s 28th premier, died last Tuesday at his home in Verchères at age 81. His state funeral will take place Tuesday at 2 p.m., also at Notre-Dame. “He was a person who did politics for all the right reasons,” said John Parisella, former chief of staff to Robert Bourassa, as he left the church. “He was a teacher. “A lot of people talk about his sovereignist convictions. I like to talk about his progressive view of society; he was a man who brought culture and a wider view of politics than just the simple news of the day.” With the church bells pealing, Landry’s flag-draped casket was carried into the church by a Sûreté du Québec honour guard shortly after 8 a.m. His family followed close behind. At 10 a.m. the doors swung open so members of the public to pay their respects. Inside the church, the public filed quietly toward Landry’s closed casket, which was placed in front of the altar between two SQ honour guards. As was the case Saturday when Landry lay in state in the Red Room of the National Assembly, his widow, Chantal Renaud, stood by the coffin and personally thanked every visitor. About 900 people visited Saturday, officials said. Among the first to say farewell Saturday was Premier François Legault, who worked with Landry when both were Parti Québécois cabinet ministers. On Monday, a second wave of personalities from Landry’s life turned up. “He marked the political landscape for 50 years,” said former premier Jean Charest. “It’s probably not up to me to say it, but it’s clear he gave economic credibility to the sovereignty movement. He made the economy an instrument of emancipation.” In a twist, Landry, who was defeated by Charest in the 2003 general election, specifically asked that Charest be among those to speak at his funeral Tuesday. “I think there is in that a sense of life,” said Charest. “I had a great deal of respect for him, so there are things which transcend politics.” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante also made an appearance, saying she, like many Montrealers, held Landry in high esteem. She said Landry helped make the city a multimedia centre. Plante said that as she entered active politics in 2013, she met Landry in person only once, at a museum event. “I told him I was running to be the first female mayor,” Plante told the Montreal Gazette. “He was so open to this and said, ‘Good luck, keep on doing what you believe in.’ “Even when he was getting older and his health was not as good, he was just so passionate about everything so this is something I will remember from him.” “I was very moved,” former premier Pauline Marois — another who worked for years with Landry — told reporters when she emerged from the church. “We salute a great Quebecer, a Quebecer who served Quebec without any limits and who loved Quebec profoundly. He loved the citizens of Quebec.” Landry’s family has been touched by the outpouring of affection. “Over the last few days we have heard stories, anecdotes, and seen tears, which say a lot about the impact our father had on his country,” Landry’s daughter, Pascale Landry, said emerging briefly at noon to speak to the media. “Our father’s objective was to make Quebec stronger and we know his dream is in good hands.” She said people from all walks of life have come forward. “It’s really in the diversity of Quebec that father’s work is felt and that love is coming back to us.”