Former Liberal cabinet minister William Tetley dies at 87

Former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister and McGill law professor William Tetley has passed away at the age of 87. (Image: McGill University)

Former Liberal cabinet member and McGill law professor William Tetley has passed away at the age of 87.

Tetley was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1952 and became a city councillor in the Town of Mount Royal before moving on to provincial politics in 1968 when he was elected MNA for NDG in Montreal’s West End..

He served as Minister of Revenue under Premier Robert Bourassa and was at the table during the crucial moments of the October Crisis, which he wrote about in a book published in 2006.

Tetley also served as Minister of Financial Institutions and wrote Quebec’s first consumer protection act.

He left provincial politics in 1976 to teach law at McGill, where he was recognized as an expert in marine law.

Tetley retired from McGill in 1998 and later served on the board at the McCord Museum.

Tetley passed away Tuesday July 1 and leaves behind his wife of 59 years as well as four children and nine grandchildren.

His funeral will take place next Tuesday at the St. Peter’s Church on Laird street in the Town of Mount Royal.