Mauril Belanger

Parliament Hill has lost a veteran MP, a man Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls “a great friend, tireless MP and brave fighter.”

Liberal MP Mauril Belanger, who was originally from Mattawa, died at age 61 following a highly public battle with A-L-S, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, which he was only diagnosed with last November.

Belanger represented the riding of Ottawa-Vanier since February 1995, and won his eighth consecutive election last fall.

He was a lifelong advocate for francophone rights in English Canada.

Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose called Belanger a friend and a “great parliamentarian,” saying on Twitter that she would miss him.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair described Belanger as a “very well-liked and respected colleague,” and sent condolences to the politician’s loved ones.

In March, Belanger was made honorary Speaker for a day and sat in the Speaker’s chair for about 20 minutes during member statements and the start of the daily question period, communicating via his tablet computer.

(The Canadian Press)