Former prime minister Brian Mulroney was remembered by politicians of all political stripes Thursday as a SA国际影视传媒済iantSA国际影视传媒� and a SA国际影视传媒渧isionary,SA国际影视传媒� as the country absorbed the news of his death at the age of 84.
SA国际影视传媒淢r. Mulroney was one of the greatest prime ministers in Canadian history,SA国际影视传媒� said former Quebec premier Jean Charest, who served in MulroneySA国际影视传媒檚 cabinet.
Mulroney died peacefully while surrounded by his family, his daughter Caroline, an Ontario cabinet minister, said on social media. Her spokesman later said he had been hospitalized in Palm Beach, Fla., after a recent fall.
His wife, Mila, and all four of his children SA国际影视传媒� Caroline, Ben, Mark and Nicolas SA国际影视传媒� were at his side, the spokesman said.
Mulroney died at around 5 p.m. and just over an hour later, as the House of Commons was debating child-care legislation, the news landed gently but sharply among the small number of MPs present.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is obviously with great regret that this House has learned of the passing of this countrySA国际影视传媒檚 18th prime minister,SA国际影视传媒� Conservative MP John Nater said, in announcing the death to the Commons.
He sought and received unanimous consent to suspend the proceedings.
The news was so sudden that deputy Speaker Chris DSA国际影视传媒橢ntremont had to stall briefly while the appropriate official could be summoned to remove the ceremonial mace and close the House for the night.
Mulroney led the country as the leader of the Progressive Conservatives from 1984 until 1993.
He championed free trade and ushered in the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement in 1988, the precursor to the North American Free Trade Agreement that took effect in 1994. Many Canadians also remember him for bringing in the GST.
Former prime minister Jean Chr茅tien, who was the last opposition leader Mulroney faced before he retired, recalled his rivalSA国际影视传媒檚 penchant for trying SA国际影视传媒渃ontroversial thingsSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� including twice unsuccessfully trying to amend the Constitution, with the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords.
In a rare appearance on Parliament Hill, Chr茅tien paid tribute to his former opponent, saying it was better to try something hard than not to try at all.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was an opponent of him all my political career, but in politics, opposition is opposition,SA国际影视传媒� Chr茅tien said.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 like playing hockey. You can fight on the ice and have a beer together after that. And we had a lot of things in common.SA国际影视传媒�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was travelling in Thunder Bay, Ont., said he was SA国际影视传媒渄evastatedSA国际影视传媒� by MulroneySA国际影视传媒檚 death. He said his first thoughts were for MulroneySA国际影视传媒檚 family, and also for Canada.
SA国际影视传媒淗e shaped our past but he shapes our present and he will impact our future as well,SA国际影视传媒� Trudeau said.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are many many people across the country tonight who are reeling and feeling a deep absence.SA国际影视传媒�
Trudeau said Mulroney was a champion for the environment and stood up for CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 values against communism, authoritarianism and apartheid.
A spokesman for Trudeau said the prime minister had spoken to MulroneySA国际影视传媒檚 family directly to offer his condolences.
Many politicians spoke about how much they leaned on Mulroney for advice, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. He shared a photo of himself with Mulroney, thanking him for his SA国际影视传媒渃andid advice and generous mentorship.SA国际影视传媒�
Mulroney brought SA国际影视传媒渢ransformational changeSA国际影视传媒� to Canada, said Poilievre.
SA国际影视传媒淗e unleashed free enterprise, crushed inflation, restored fiscal sanity and concluded one of the greatest free trade agreements the world has ever seen, which remains largely in place today,SA国际影视传媒� Poilievre said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called Mulroney SA国际影视传媒渁 giantSA国际影视传媒� who leaves behind an SA国际影视传媒渦nmatched legacy.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淏rian was also so generous with his time,SA国际影视传媒� said Ford. SA国际影视传媒淲hen faced with tough decisions, I often leaned on him for advice and benefited from his experience and his political instincts. He was a role model to me and taught me countless lessons on how to be a better leader.SA国际影视传媒�
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland reflected on turning to Mulroney for counsel as she worked to renegotiate the North American free trade pact in 2017 and 2018.
SA国际影视传媒淚 will miss his wise counsel,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
From across the political spectrum, politicians young and old recalled their own meetings with Mulroney.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who has been targeted with hate for his outspoken defence of Israel and the Canadian Jewish community in recent months, said Mulroney reached out to him just a few months ago.
SA国际影视传媒淚n December 2023 I was going through a pretty stressful time and Brian Mulroney took the time to call me and encourage me,SA国际影视传媒� Housefather said.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat was the kind of man he was. He cared about people. A true gentleman.SA国际影视传媒�
Sen. Leo Housakos said Mulroney was his SA国际影视传媒減ersonal inspiration for entering politics.SA国际影视传媒�
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh praised MulroneySA国际影视传媒檚 contributions to the environment, including SA国际影视传媒渓eading the world in tackling acid rain and banning chemicals that were destroying the ozone layer.SA国际影视传媒�
Former U.S. President George W. Bush said Mulroney was SA国际影视传媒渃harming, fun and kindSA国际影视传媒� in a statement published to X, formerly known as Twitter.
SA国际影视传媒淎s Prime Minister of Canada, Brian helped end the Cold War, working closely with Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He developed a very close friendship with my dad,SA国际影视传媒� said Bush.
Mulroney gave a eulogy at the state funeral of George H.W. Bush in 2018.
