Former Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney, has died.
Mulroney died peacefully in the presence of his family, his daughter Caroline Mulroney posted on social media platform X. He died at the age of 84.
Caroline tweeted: “On behalf of my mother and our family, it is with great sadness we announce the passing of my father. He died peacefully, surrounded by family.”
In August 2023, Caroline revealed that Mulroney had a heart procedure and had undergone prostate cancer treatment earlier last year.
Mulroney, a corporate lawyer turned businessman, led the Progressive Conservatives to an unprecedented win in 1984 over the Liberals.
While expressing his sadness over Mulroney’s death, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “devastated” to learn of Brian Mulroney’s demise.
Trudeau said: “He never stopped working for Canadians, and he always sought to make this country an even better place to call home. I’ll never forget the insights he shared with me over the years – he was generous, tireless, and incredibly passionate. As we mourn his passing and keep his family and friends in our thoughts, let us also acknowledge – and celebrate – Mr. Mulroney’s role in building the modern, dynamic, and prosperous country we all know today.”
While talking to reporters in Toronto, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he spoke to Mulroney last was six weeks ago after he heard his health condition had worsened.
Poilievre said: “A husband, a father, a brilliant businessman, a prime minister and a statesman. He was the son of an electrician who despite his modest beginnings, rose to extraordinary heights.
“It wasn’t electoral success that defined his career. It’s what he did with it.
“As prime minister, he unleashed free enterprise, he crushed inflation, he signed one of the most important free trade agreements in the history of the world with the United States of America. On the world stage, he stood firmly on the side of freedom and against communism in the Cold War.”
Also, Poilievre talked about Mulroney’s effort in dealing with South Africa and its apartheid government.
He said: “Nelson Mandela singled out Brian Mulroney, and by extension all Canadians, for his essential role in applying crippling sanctions against the apartheid regime that helped bring that racist system to an end.”
Poilievre talked about how Mulroney used to tell him to “give people hope,” reminding him of the high inflation rates that Canadians encountered in the 80s.
Poilievre said: “He said, ‘We can turn this around,’ and he did. As a result, millions of Canadians had the opportunity to work hard and own a home and live the Canadian dream.” Poilievre said.
Furthermore, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh posted on social media he was saddened by the news of Mulroney’s passing.
Singh wrote: “He made an important contribution to Canada, including protecting our environment – leading the world in tackling acid rain and banning chemicals that were destroying the ozone layer.
“He was also a strong opponent of Apartheid, leading the efforts to sanction South Africa by Commonwealth nations.”
Former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien, said: “He was prime minister for two long terms and I was an opponent of him all my political career, but in politics, opposition is opposition. It’s like playing hockey: you can fight on the ice, but have a beer together after that, and we had a lot of things in common,” Chretien said of his predecessor.
“He took the Conservative party in very bad shape – you know, they had not been in government since in the thirties – and he built it back. But his greatest success was to break in (to) Quebec.”
In a statement released on X, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: “History will record that Mr. Mulroney’s premiership was transformational.
“Prime Minister Mulroney fought to secure the Free Trade Agreement with the United States, from which Canada has benefitted immensely ever since.”
Former Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, said Mulroney “was one of the greatest prime ministers” in Canadian history.
Charest said: “He was an exceptional leader. A visionary. And a statesman whose influence had a significant impact on the international stage. I remember him as generous, passionate, and deeply attached to Canada. Our country owes Prime Minister Mulroney a profound debt of gratitude.”
While describing Mulroney, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said he is the “greenest” Prime Minister in the history of Canada.
She tweeted: “He was always so very kind and generous as a leader and a friend. Deepest sympathy to the whole family.”
Former Ontario Premier, Bob Rae, sympathized with to Mulroney’s wife and family.
Rae said: “When my brother died, Brian Mulroney was the first political leader to call, as he was when I was elected premier in 1990, when I was defeated, and at so many other moments. He was my friend, despite our differences.”
Shola Agboola, a prominent Canadian Politician, Candidate of Record for Saint Boniface-Saint Vital and member of the Conservative Party of Canada’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC), expressed his sadness over Mulroney’s death. He said: “As a proud Canadian, I’ve always been deeply fascinated by Canada’s economic prosperity until recently. I’ve extensively studied the North American Free Trade Agreement and its transformative impact on Canada’s economy. The news of The Right Honorable Brian Mulroney’s passing, Canada’s 18th prime minister and the visionary leader behind that economic shift, deeply saddens me.”
