Leaders such as Joe Clark, Jean Charest and Doug Ford pause to remember former PM the day following his passing
A message in memory of former prime minister Brian Mulroney is written in chalk on the sidewalk in front of Parliament Hill's West Block in Ottawa on March 1.Brian Mulroney’s indelible mark on Canada was celebrated Friday – with free trade and an acid rain treaty heralded as his most consequential accomplishments – but politicians of all stripes also spoke of his personal touch as they paid homage to a titan of Canadian politics.
Mr. Mulroney was the first political leader to call Bob Rae when the onetime premier’s brother died, when he won the Ontario election and when he lost. The former prime minister encouraged Liberal MP Anthony Housefather through a tough time late last fall and cheered former interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose on during her toughest political moments.
At a certain point the two men were both adjusting to needing reading glasses, but Mr. Clark was unwilling to wear his in the House of Commons. That decision failed him one day when he had to read a statement in French. Mr. Mulroney came to his aid and inconspicuously gave him his own. On big attempts that failed, such as constitutional reform, Mr. Clark said it wasn’t a mistake for Mr. Mulroney to try, they just didn’t work out.“Was he controversial? Yes. Did he earn some of that controversy? Yes. Was he perfect? No. Clearly no. But he was certainly consequential, and the consequences were not short-term ones,” Mr. Clark said.
Even after he left office, Mr. Mulroney advised politicians behind the scenes and helped the federal government navigate the Donald Trump presidency and free trade negotiations. However, his health began to falter. He was treated for prostate cancer almost a year ago and underwent a heart procedure in August.
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