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National - Ottawa Citizen Online Wednesday July 04, 2001 Pierre Trudeau's son Justin launches new stamp honouring late prime minister CONWAY DALY MONTREAL (CP) - A new postage stamp honouring Pierre Trudeau was officially launched Tuesday with a quip by the late prime minister's eldest son. To Justin Trudeau, 29, the stamp means "a lot of people will have the opportunity to lick my father's back." The light-hearted remark drew a laugh from the elite crowd of about 600 invited guests at University of Montreal, where Trudeau studied and taught law. Trudeau, 80, died last Sept. 28 of complications from prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease. Andre Ouellet, a former cabinet colleague who's now president of Canada Post, said the Trudeau family was consulted about the picture used for the latest 47-cent stamp. Ouellet, who praised Trudeau's "strong beliefs as well as his groundbreaking policies," said it's a tradition to issue a stamp honouring Canada's prime ministers in the year that immediately follows their death. Trudeau's image - wearing a loose-fitting cape and with a trademark red rose in his lapel - is taken from a portrait that hangs in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill. Justin and his brother Alexandre (Sacha) attended the ceremony and drew warm applause. They later passed up a news conference where Ouellet and Alfonso Gagliano, cabinet minister responsible for Canada Post, fielded questions from reporters on the sons. Justin Trudeau, who grabbed national attention with a moving oration at his father's funeral, has repeatedly said he hates publicity and loves the teaching profession's anonymity. But Gagliano suggested that if either Trudeau son wants to take a run at public office, he'd find a natural home in the Liberal party. "If one of them decides to go into politics, he'd be an ideal candidate," said Gagliano, quickly adding that "there is no election right now and I wouldn't like to start any speculation." Sacha Trudeau let his brother handle the brief thank-you remarks to the crowd, which included several Liberal MPs and senators. Sacha had looked overcome with emotion last Sunday at the unveiling of a statue and plaque to his father in Montreal's Centennial Park, now renamed Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park. Gagliano, who was born in Italy and educated in Montreal, said the late prime minister's political openness inspired his own career. Trudeau's name is known to people all over the world, said Gagliano. "When you say, 'Canada', the next word that comes to their mind and their mouth is 'Trudeau'," he said. Ouellet said the Trudeau-image stamp was put in circulation on Canada Day. http://www.southam.com/ottawacitizen/newsnow/cpfs/national/010703/n0703194.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn