Otto Jelinek, a former cabinet minister and world-champion figure skater, dead at 86

Otto Jelinek, a former world champion figure skater and Canadian cabinet minister, has passed away at the age of 86. Jelinek, born in Prague, fled communism with his family as a child. He represented Canada in figure skating at the 1960 Winter Olympics in California and later entered federal politics, serving as national revenue minister and portfolios in sport and multiculturalism under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Jelinek left politics after contemplating a leadership bid for the Progressive Conservative Party, later becoming Canadian Ambassador to the Czech Republic. He died peacefully in hospital on Saturday after living with Parkinson's disease for nearly two decades.