Montreal cops to shed colourful khakis for regular uniforms at Angelil funeral

MONTREAL – Montreal police will shelve their colourful protest pants for Rene Angelil’s funeral this week.

The police brotherhood says officers working at the Quebec impresario’s viewing Thursday and funeral Friday will wear their standard issue uniform.

The husband of Canadian superstar Celine Dion, Angelil died at age 73 last week after a long battle with throat cancer.

The police union said in a statement the proper uniform will be worn exclusively for the two events.

Montreal police shed their standard attire in favour of colourful military-style pants in July 2014 as part of pressure tactics stemming from a battle over pension reforms.

Officers drew the ire of the political class when they wore the protest attire to ex-premier Jacques Parizeau’s state funeral last June.

They had, however, put the protest on hold for Jean Beliveau’s funeral in December 2014.

Angelil started his career in entertainment as a singer in the early 1960s before quitting to manage up-and-coming Quebec artists.

He began overseeing Dion in the 1980s and helped her reach international stardom.

His service, as per his wishes, will be held at the Notre-Dame Basilica, the same Montreal church where the couple married in 1994.