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Mourners at the Notre Dame Basilica in downtown Ottawa sang the new, gender-neutral version of the national anthem Saturday as the veteran MP was laid to rest.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau were among the mournings along with former governor general Michaëlle Jean and former prime minister Joe Clark.

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Flags at City Hall and on Parliament Hill were at half mast Saturday to honour the long-time Ottawa-Vanier MP who died Aug. 15, aged 61, just nine months after he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The diagnosis came barely a month after Bélanger won his eighth consecutive election victory.

The veteran parliamentarian was best known for his efforts to promote bilingualism across Canada.

“Mr. Bélanger leaves us to build upon his strong advocacy for Canada’s linguistic duality, national unity and a just and fair society for all,” the city said in a release.