Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wears a black ribbon on his lapel as he arrives to deliver a proclamation on the death of Queen Elizabeth II in Vancouver on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Columbia Premier John Horgan met for lunch in Vancouver on Friday, before Trudeau prepares to travel back to Ottawa after a three-day cabinet retreat marked by the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Columbia Premier John Horgan met for lunch in Vancouver on Friday, before Trudeau was to travel back to Ottawa after a three-day cabinet retreat marked by the death of Queen Elizabeth II. A readout from the Prime Minister’s Office says the couple acknowledged with sadness Her Majesty’s death at age 96 on Thursday, noting the “tremendous influence” she had across Canada during her 70-year reign. He says the two leaders also talked about pressures on Canada’s health care systems and agreed on the importance of different levels of government working together to make improvements for patients and health care workers. The readout says Trudeau and Horgan discussed opportunities for BC and Canada to become “reliable sources of energy and natural resources in a net-zero world,” meaning the economy either produces no greenhouse gas emissions or offsets its emissions. It says they agreed to continue working closely on shared priorities, including reconciliation with indigenous peoples and economic development initiatives. Trudeau was due to sign the book of condolences for Britain’s longest-serving monarch installed at Rideau Hall on his return to Ottawa on Friday night. The prime minister and members of the federal cabinet and privy council were also expected to meet as part of the protocol required to officially name King Charles III as Canada’s new head of state. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday morning.
