Justin Trudeau pays tribute to victims of Bataclan concert hall attack

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute this morning to victims of this month's terrorist attacks in Paris with a visit to the Bataclan concert hall, the scene of the worst carnage on Nov. 13.

A Quebec delegation organized the memorial ceremony at the site where 90 of the 130 victims died when ISIS-inspired gunmen and suicide bombers launched seven co-ordinated attacks around Paris.

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Trudeau was accompanied by his wife Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau as well as Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre. French Prime Minister Manual Valls also joined them at the memorial where they honoured the victims in silent reflection.

The moving Quebec ballad Quand les hommes vivront d'amour (Men will live from love), written by Raymond Lévesque, was performed at the ceremony by Véronic Dicaire, and students from a Quebec school board laid flowers on the makeshift shrine in front of the cafe.

Trudeau called his visit to the Bataclan "extremely touching."

"Canadians as a whole were extremely touched and affected deeply by the attacks, and it was an important opportunity to demonstrate that we stand firmly in sympathy and in resolve with the people of France — indeed with everyone around the world in the fight against terror and the work to create peace and stability across the world," he said.

World leaders descend on Paris, despite attacks

Trudeau said Saturday the shadow of the terrible terrorist attacks has actually made world leaders eager to show up in solidarity at the Paris climate talks, and that he was optimistic of a positive outcome despite the absence of credible emissions-cutting plans to stop global warming.

Premiers Kathleen Wynne of Ontario, Rachel Notley of Alberta, Christy Clark of B.C. and Saskatchewan's Brad Wall are also in Paris for Monday's formal start of the COP21 international climate negotiations, and will stop at the Bataclan to pay tribute later this afternoon.

Following the tribute, Trudeau had a working lunch today with French President François Hollande at the Élysée Palace. Tonight, he will meet with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi as negotiations on a post-2020 international climate framework get underway.

The prime minister has also scheduled meetings today with Ukraine President Petro Porochenko, former governor general Michaëlle Jean who is currently heading La Francophonie, and a group of Canadian big city mayors.

PM Trudeau in Paris for climate change talks

9 years ago

Duration 2:55

Justin Trudeau says he will consult with premiers within 90 days of the Paris climate change summit to set Canada's carbon reduction targets