ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Hundreds of people visited the House of Assembly on Tuesday for their first chance to pay respects to the late John C. Crosbie.
The urn containing Crosbie’s ashes sat in state on the floor of the House of Assembly for the first time on Tuesday. Another visitation will take place on Wednesday from 2-6 p.m.
Crosbie’s funeral will take place Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Anglican Cathedral in St. John’s.
The Crosbie family, away from the cameras and microphones, received hundreds of visitors, wishing the family well in their time of grief.
Anne Gushue, from Calvert on the province’s Southern Shore, says Crosbie was a frequent guest to her home during campaigns. She says he was a fine representative.
“I’d say he came by a dozen times, at least, while he was a member,” she said.
“Lots of memories of him in the house, but there’s an awful lot of times when things were bad, people didn’t get their stamps and that. For the winter, in the plants, he’d always make sure there was work during the winter. He was a wonderful member. He’d never see you without, if he could do something.”
Former Tory MHA Loyola Sullivan, who served as finance minister and leader of the Opposition, paid his respects to Crosbie.
“If there’s ever a legend, an icon, in Newfoundland history, it’s John Crosbie,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan says Crosbie’s role in securing a federal agreement to get the Hibernia project off the ground is a major part of his legacy.
“It was the turning point in Newfoundland and Labrador on the road to a more prosperous future,” he said.
Sullivan says he got some unexpected advice from Crosbie early in his political career.
“I got elected first in a byelection in 1992. John was retiring in ’93. They had a function down in St. Mary's for his retirement,” he said.
“I was talking to John. I said, ‘John, I guess, you know, tell it like it is, speak your mind, go up and campaign, tell them the truth and everything will work out.’ John said, ‘Don’t be so goddamned foolish. You tell ‘em what they want to hear, and you do what’s best for them when you get in.’”
Ken Locke, head of a local PC district association, says he has high hopes for Crosbie’s eldest son.
“I think Ches Crosbie will carry his father’s legacy very far.”
