Leo Bernier,
dubbed the 'King of the North,' died in a Sioux Lookout hospital, June
28.
The former
Ontario Progressive Conservative cabinet minister was 81.
Born in nearby
Hudson, he was general manager of Bernier & Sons Contractors before serving
in the Ontario Legislature from 1966 until his retirement in 1987.
Bernier easily
won re-election many times and became a powerful cabinet minister and voice for
the North through the 1970s and 80s in heading up various portfolios in Natural
Resources and Northern Affairs and Mines.
In a statement,
Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak said Bernier "set a high
standard for ensuring that Northern Ontario received a fair hearing in the halls
of government."
Hudak said that because of Bernier, Northern issues were "always a
priority" under the Bill Davis and Frank Miller governments and "Northern
families knew they always had a champion at the cabinet table."
Hudak, a former
Northern Development and Mines minister, said Bernier remained a friend and
mentor to many in the party.
"Northern Ontario
and, indeed, our entire province is a better place for his service."
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