1-3-2024 (OTTAWA) Brian Mulroney, the former Canadian prime minister who played a pivotal role in establishing a free trade agreement with the United States but faced controversy over his involvement in improper business dealings, has died at the age of 84. The news was shared by his daughter, Caroline Mulroney, on the social media platform X on February 29.
Caroline Mulroney revealed that her father had passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. The former prime minister had undergone a heart procedure in August and received treatment for prostate cancer earlier in 2023, as detailed in a social media post last August.
Before entering politics, Mulroney started his career as a corporate lawyer and later ventured into the business world. He led the centre-right Progressive Conservatives to a historic victory in 1984, defeating the Liberals led by Pierre Trudeau.
Known for his eloquence in public speaking, Mulroney aimed to instill conservative principles in Canada, drawing inspiration from the Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher era. During his nine-year tenure, he implemented significant reforms, including overhauling the tax system and privatizing government-owned assets.
Mulroney’s most notable achievements include negotiating the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement in 1988, which played a crucial role in boosting Canadian exports. Additionally, he introduced a goods and services tax in 1991, despite its unpopularity, which helped address the government’s financial challenges.
Under his leadership, several government-run corporations, including Air Canada, were sold off. Mulroney also actively engaged in foreign affairs, spearheading efforts to combat acid rain through a treaty with the United States. He also advocated for international causes, such as addressing the Ethiopian famine in 1984 and condemning apartheid in South Africa.
Mulroney’s charismatic personality and rapport with US President Ronald Reagan allowed him to negotiate significant agreements, including the bilateral trade deal between Canada and the United States. The bond between the two leaders was evident during a 1985 summit when they publicly performed the song “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.”
However, Mulroney’s attempts to amend Canada’s constitution to recognize Quebec as a distinct society, in an effort to counter the Quebec independence movement, created divisions between French and English Canada that had lasting political repercussions.
Despite initial successes, Mulroney’s popularity declined in the late 1980s and early 1990s, leading to the fragmentation of his party and the emergence of separatist and regionalist movements. He resigned in 1993 amidst historically low approval ratings, and his Progressive Conservative party suffered a devastating defeat in the subsequent election.
Following his departure from politics, Mulroney returned to the legal profession and became a partner at the Montreal firm Norton Rose Fulbright. However, his post-political career was overshadowed by controversy when allegations emerged regarding kickbacks received from German-Canadian arms dealer Karlheinz Schreiber in relation to the sale of Airbus airliners to Air Canada in 1988.
In 2010, an inquiry confirmed that Mulroney had engaged in improper business dealings with Schreiber. While Mulroney maintained that the payments were not illegal, he publicly apologized for accepting the money, acknowledging it as a significant mistake in his life.
Mulroney maintained close friendships with both Ronald Reagan and former US President George H.W. Bush, delivering eulogies at their respective funerals.
