Minister to represent Canada at Abe’s funeral

Federal Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne will represent Canada at former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s state funeral this week.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was scheduled to visit Japan and attend Tuesday’s funeral, but cancelled those plans to oversee recovery efforts after post-tropical storm Fiona ravaged much of eastern Canada and parts of Quebec.

Describing Abe as a friend and ally of Canada, Champagne says the former Japanese prime minister played an important role bringing the two countries closer together.

Trudeau was to meet current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as Japan prepares to take over as president of the G7 and the Liberals finalize its Indo-Pacific strategy.