Canada’s 17th Prime Minister says the whole country was saddened by the tornado devastation in Goderich.
John Turner urged the community to rebuild during a 200 dollar a plate fundraising ‘red tie’ gala at the Hessenland Inn, just north of St. Joseph on Wednesday night.
Turner says residents must make Goderich “the place it use to be” — which was known as “the Prettiest Town in Canada.”
Turner’s main message at the fundraiser was to get more young people involved in politics to help re-energize the Liberal party.
The Liberal faithful in the crowd represented the riding associations of Huron Bruce, Lambton Kent Middlesex and Perth Wellington.
Turner noted that the average age of those in attendance was over 60.
Turner cites four factors that deter youth from getting involved as candidates — the cost and material sacrifice required, the strain on intimate relationships, media intrusion in private lives and the diminishing ability of MPs to make a difference.
Turner also spoke about the death of federal Opposition Leader Jack Layton.
Turner calls Layton “a great Canadian who did a sensational job for the NDP.”
But he doesn’t see his death as being catalytic to merger discussions between the Liberals and the NDP.
