Tributes are flooding in from leaders of all political stripes following the news of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s passing yesterday at the age of 84.
Mulroney’s daughter, Caroline, confirmed his passing in a post to social media, saying he died peacefully while surrounded by family.
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On behalf of my mother and our family, it is with great sadness we announce the passing of my father, The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister. He died peacefully, surrounded by family.— Caroline Mulroney (@C_Mulroney) February 29, 2024
The Conservative PM had the largest majority mandate in history when he was elected in 1984. He stepped down as prime minister in 1993.
Current federal leaders posted their respects on social media.
Brian Mulroney loved Canada. I’m devastated to learn of his passing.
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,…
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 29, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted that he was “devastated” to learn of Mulroney’s passing, praising him for trying to “make this country an even better place to call home.”
"It is with great sadness that Canadians learn of the loss of one of our greatest ever statesmen, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney. The love and prayers of all Canadians go to his beloved children, Caroline, Ben, Mark and Nicolas, and the love of his life, his best friend and… pic.twitter.com/BBYU8Zejxh
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) February 29, 2024
Mulroney left an indelible mark on Newfoundland and Labrador with the passing of the Atlantic Accord to guide offshore oil and gas development. The Peckford Tories had been trying for years to negotiate the accord with the Trudeau Liberals, who preceded Mulroney’s Tories.
He also went to St. John’s in the mid-1980s to launch the creation of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, better known as ACOA.
At a dark point in my life, he called. I’ll never forget it. His compassion is something I could never repay.
There are thousands of people who can say the same today, thousands who are remembering his quiet kindness, his loyalty, his steel.
Rest in peace, Mr Mulroney.
— Seamus O'Regan Jr (@SeamusORegan) March 1, 2024
Mulroney, whose orator skills were superior, stated at the accompanying news conference that “his government was not afraid to inflict prosperity on Newfoundland.”
On the other side, he and former Liberal Premier Clyde Wells fought over the Meech Lake Accord, a document which declared Quebec to be a “distinct society.” Wells did not accept that Quebec should be regarded as the only distinct society in Canada, one of the main reasons that the accord failed.
I am saddened to hear of the death of the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney.
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.
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) February 29, 2024
Mulroney was Canada’s 18th PM. His time in office also saw the introduction of the unpopular GST and the creation of a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
He was elected Prime Minister in 1984 delivering the federal Progressive Conservatives their first majority government in more than two decades after defeating John Turner’s Liberals.
Mulroney served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1993. He had been in declining health in recent years, and last visited the province to attend the funeral of John Crosbie in January of 2020.
Flags will fly at half mast at all provincial government buildings until sunset on the day of the funeral.
