Former prime minister Brian Mulroney was remembered by politicians of all political stripes Thursday as a 害羞草研究所済iant害羞草研究所� and a 害羞草研究所渧isionary,害羞草研究所� as the country absorbed the news of his death at the age of 84.
害羞草研究所淢r. Mulroney was one of the greatest prime ministers in Canadian history,害羞草研究所� said former Quebec premier Jean Charest, who served in Mulroney害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所� Caroline, Ben, Mark and Nicolas 害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淚t is obviously with great regret that this House has learned of the passing of this country害羞草研究所檚 18th prime minister,害羞草研究所� 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 D害羞草研究所橢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 rival害羞草研究所檚 penchant for trying 害羞草研究所渃ontroversial things害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淚 was an opponent of him all my political career, but in politics, opposition is opposition,害羞草研究所� Chr茅tien said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was travelling in Thunder Bay, Ont., said he was 害羞草研究所渄evastated害羞草研究所� by Mulroney害羞草研究所檚 death. He said his first thoughts were for Mulroney害羞草研究所檚 family, and also for Canada.
害羞草研究所淗e shaped our past but he shapes our present and he will impact our future as well,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said.
害羞草研究所淭here are many many people across the country tonight who are reeling and feeling a deep absence.害羞草研究所�
Trudeau said Mulroney was a champion for the environment and stood up for Canada害羞草研究所檚 values against communism, authoritarianism and apartheid.
A spokesman for Trudeau said the prime minister had spoken to Mulroney害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渃andid advice and generous mentorship.害羞草研究所�
Mulroney brought 害羞草研究所渢ransformational change害羞草研究所� to Canada, said Poilievre.
害羞草研究所淗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,害羞草研究所� Poilievre said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called Mulroney 害羞草研究所渁 giant害羞草研究所� who leaves behind an 害羞草研究所渦nmatched legacy.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淏rian was also so generous with his time,害羞草研究所� said Ford. 害羞草研究所淲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.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淚 will miss his wise counsel,害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淚n December 2023 I was going through a pretty stressful time and Brian Mulroney took the time to call me and encourage me,害羞草研究所� Housefather said.
害羞草研究所淭hat was the kind of man he was. He cared about people. A true gentleman.害羞草研究所�
Sen. Leo Housakos said Mulroney was his 害羞草研究所減ersonal inspiration for entering politics.害羞草研究所�
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh praised Mulroney害羞草研究所檚 contributions to the environment, including 害羞草研究所渓eading the world in tackling acid rain and banning chemicals that were destroying the ozone layer.害羞草研究所�
Former U.S. President George W. Bush said Mulroney was 害羞草研究所渃harming, fun and kind害羞草研究所� in a statement published to X, formerly known as Twitter.
害羞草研究所淎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,害羞草研究所� said Bush.
Mulroney gave a eulogy at the state funeral of George H.W. Bush in 2018.
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