The country's 18th prime minister died peacefully today surrounded by family, according to a social media post by his daughter Caroline
Canadians loved him: In 1984, they handed the youthful charmer a blank cheque and the largest majority mandate in history so he could change the country.
Voters pleaded for reforms when they elected him. When he tried to deliver that change — be it free trade, tax reform or a new Constitution — they reacted with wariness at best and hostility more often. Before becoming the first Quebecer to lead the Conservatives in the 20th century, Mulroney was the Boy from Baie-Comeau.
He worshipped his father Ben, an electrician who taught him the importance of loyalty. His father had always voted Liberal, but during his university years Mulroney became a prominent young Tory. Mulroney's university years would also bring him into contact with those who would later help him win the leadership and serve in his government: eventual senators Lowell Murray, Michel Cogger and Jean Bazin, and the man who would become his soulmate, Lucien Bouchard.
Mulroney rocketed to public notice in Quebec in 1974 after Premier Robert Bourassa appointed him to the Cliche commission investigating union violence in the construction industry. Conrad Black, a friend for decades, wrote of Mulroney: "His knowledge of how to get ahead was geometrically greater than any notion he had of what to do when he reached his destination."
Publicly, Mulroney pledged loyalty to Clark. Privately, his friends in the party worked feverishly to undermine him and force a leadership review. He listed the reasons: "The slickness, smoothness, pat answers, feeling that there is no substance, plastic image . . ." Mulroney had won the largest number of seats ever — 211 of 282 MPs — to become Canada's 18th prime minister. It was an achievement paralleled in the 20th century by only one other Conservative leader — Mulroney’s hero, John Diefenbaker.
He electrified voters during the 1984 election debate with his attack on John Turner and the Liberal party's history of patronage. But he wasted little time after his election in giving his old friends Senate seats and other plum posts. "It's terrific until the elephant twitches, and if it ever rolls over, you're a dead man," Mulroney said.
The whole country was surprised when their meeting produced the Meech Lake accord. The package included recognition of Quebec as a distinct society and gave all provinces a greater say in the appointment of senators and justices of the Supreme Court of Canada. Lucien Bouchard, his best friend for almost 30 years and the man Mulroney brought into politics and his cabinet, turned his back on the prime minister and his party over the changes.
"It's like an election campaign; you count backward," he said in the interview with the Globe and Mail. "I said, 'That's the day we're going to roll the dice.'"Twice, Mulroney had the unanimous backing of first ministers to bring his home province into the constitutional family. Twice, that consensus evaporated.
Every first minister and aboriginal leader enthusiastically supported the agreement. Initial polling results suggested most Canadians did as well and Mulroney decided to ask voters to back the pact in the country’s first referendum in 50 years.Voters in six provinces, including Quebec, said No to the Charlottetown agreement and Mulroney abandoned his efforts to change the Constitution.
He killed the baby bonus, sold Air Canada and sliced the CBC and Via Rail — institutions that symbolized the country. After years of controversy, a public inquiry under Justice Jeffrey Oliphant was set up in 2008 to look into the matter, albeit with a strictly limited mandate that left the Air Canada deal and the libel suit out of the picture.
Mulroney said he got $225,000 from Schreiber; the businessman said it was $300,000. Oliphant said he didn't accept either claim. He regularly delivered speeches before various public policy or charitable foundations. He often stressed that a political legacy often doesn't gel for years. He urged audiences against a rush to judgment.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Flags at Ottawa City Hall to be lowered in honour of Brian McGarryThe flags in front of Ottawa City Hall will be lowered to half-mast on Sunday, Feb. 4 in honour of local politician, businessman and philanthropist Brian McGarry.
Lire la suite »
City of Ottawa, NCC reach agreement on Brian Coburn Blvd. extension in east endThe city of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission have reached an agreement to 'improve transit' in Ottawa's east end, including building a two-lane westerly extension of Brian Coburn Boulevard from Navan Road to the northern segment of the existing Renaud Road.
Lire la suite »
Brian Ortega: 'It Didn’t Seem Like It Was the Same' Volkanovski at UFC 298Brian Ortega got to see Alexander Volkanovski at the top of his game.
Lire la suite »
Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts RankingsBrian Ortega found redemption in Mexico City.
Lire la suite »
Former Blue Jays Pitcher Matthew Boyd Celebrates 33rd BirthdayMatthew Boyd, a former left-handed pitching prospect for the Blue Jays, turns 33 today. Despite facing injury troubles and being traded multiple times, Boyd has had a nine-year career with a 4.94 ERA in 174 games, 160 starts.
Lire la suite »