Roméo LeBlanc's state funeral has RCMP finalizing security plans
Last Updated: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 | 5:24 PM AT
CBC News
The RCMP are finalizing security plans for a state funeral for former governor general Roméo LeBlanc, to be held in his hometown of Memramcook, N.B., on July 3. (Reuters)The New Brunswick RCMP are finalizing security plans for the state funeral of former governor general Roméo LeBlanc in his hometown of Memramcook.
As many as 3,000 people are expected to attend the funeral on Friday, including 250 VIPs.
Sgt. Claude Tremblay said having the funeral in the small southeastern community is an advantage for police because there is less traffic and fewer dangers for the VIPs.
"When you go to the larger cities — Montreal, Calgary Moncton, Fredericton — there's a lot more traffic as far as vehicles are concerned," Tremblay said.
"Because it's such a small village, such a beautiful place in our province, it will be a little easier that way."
Tremblay said the RCMP will use officers from specialized units in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to avoid taking regular officers off regular patrols.
LeBlanc died last Wednesday at the age of 81.
Tremblay said the list of VIPs will include Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former prime minister Jean Chrétien, who appointed LeBlanc to the position of governor general, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLaughlin.
Tremblay said outdoor screens will be installed at the church for those who don't make it inside.
The funeral will be shown live on CBC-TV in New Brunswick and live streamed at CBCNews.ca.\
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