John Turner's long run to the Liberal party leadership

On June 16, 1984, John Turner becomes, on a second-ballot win, the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. It has been a long time coming, and it's not the first time he has had his name on the party ballot.

In December 1967, prime minister Lester Pearson announced his resignation from politics, triggering aconvention to find his replacement.

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Presenting himself as the voice of Canada's younger generation, leadership contender Turner takes the stage in April 1968 shownin the television clip below to utter these prophetic words: "I'm not just in this race so you will remember my name at some future date I'm not bidding now for your consideration at some vague convention in 1984."

"My time is now,"Turner tells his fellow Liberals.

John Turner in 1968: 'My time is now'

56 years ago

Duration 2:55

John Turner, up against

He was up against a most formidable opponent, Pierre Trudeau, the other up-and-coming, youthful contender.It took four ballots for Trudeau to win the leadership a position he would hold for the next 16 years.

As prime minister, Trudeau would later appoint Turner to two prestigious cabinet posts, justice and finance.

But Turner announced his resignation from the latter post in September of 1976and resigned altogether from politics the following February.

He joined a Toronto law firmand it was not until Trudeau announced his own resignation that he was lured back into public life and another attempt at the party leadership.

This time, Turner winsthe leadership, after eight years out of politics.On June 18, 1984, he finds himself back in the House of Commons, celebrating his win from the gallery.Twelve days later,he is sworn in as the 17th prime minister of Canada.

His time in that role is short-lived, however, as his party losesthe Sept. 4 election in a landslide victory by Brian Mulroney and the Progressive Conservatives.

Turner stayed on as Liberal leader and would lead his party through another federal election. But he would never be prime minister again.