Morgentaler hailed as a ‘great man’ in tribute from Quebec legislature

QUEBEC – Quebec’s legislature has paid tribute to abortion-rights crusader Henry Morgentaler.

The assembly adopted a motion, by unanimous consent, calling Morgentaler a great man who defended women’s rights throughout his life.

It expressed its condolences to his family and held a minute of silence.

The motion was tabled by Premier Pauline Marois, who then gave a speech praising Morgentaler and she was followed by colleagues in other parties.

The occasion even led to a rarity in that chamber: a member of the Parti Quebecois government spoke briefly in English, in order to offer condolences to Morgentaler’s family.

Morgentaler, who died yesterday in Toronto at age 90, began his abortion-rights movement in Montreal where he had lived for decades.

No similar tribute is planned by the federal government, which declined yesterday to issue a statement on his death.