21 Comments

Best Prime Minister for the environment in the last 40+ years.

Acid Rain agreement with the US, Haida Gwaii, and Montreal Protocol (banning CFCs and HFCs to help the ozone layer).

RIP PM Mulroney.

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A very enlightening read, especially how Mulroney embraced the St. Laurent view of the post World War 11 era and where Canada would place itself in the action. All done with a conviction of certainty that put diplomacy ahead of political calculations.

Swimming against the current is hard work but the rewards are great when history shows that good decisions were made. Apartheid is the best example of many that reflect the character of Brian Mulroney.

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Very good piece. And nostalgic to read. Whether you agreed with Mr. Mulroney or not on a range of issues, Canada mattered. And we mattered to our allies. Small note, the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government is located at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish Nova Scotia. He raised tens of millions of dollars for his alma mater.

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"A trusted confidant of world leaders."

As well as German arms dealers...

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David Johnston was very clever at writing the terms of reference for the scope of enquiry. He is a useful fixer, and has been well rewarded.

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Mr. Mulroney was a true visionary and leader. It was an honour to serve in his government.

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This is why I subscribe to this substack rather than to, say, the Globe and Mail…

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What a fascinating connexion, framing Mulroney as St-Laurent’s diplomatic successor. I’ve written on both of them (did my dissertation on STL & Pearson sending a Canadian destroyer to China early-1949 in conjunction with the formation of NATO; then co-authored the official history of the Gulf War). This resonates poignantly, in a connexion I had never made before. A well-deserved testimonial to a pair of great Canadian political leaders.

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Well written. Well said, sir. Thank you.

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Canada needs more Mr. Mulroney's!

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On pourrait aussi mentioner le beau risque de ses deux tentatives d'Accords constitutionnels : Meech et Charlottetown.

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A brilliant piece, which comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with Ian Brodie's work. An equally compelling column could be written on the understated, yet crucial role Mr. Mulroney played in German reunification talks, one that I am sure Ian could write with equal aplomb...

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A wonderful perspective.

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Good piece. Would have liked a bit more on how Mr. Mulroney brought the PC party back to life in Quebec , his international credibility and his bi-partisan method of ruling ( eg Steven Lewis as ambassador to the UN ).

Mulroney's record makes JT's look dismally empty by comparison for similar time in office.

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My feelings generally soften for old war horses after their retirement, and Mr. Mulroney's charisma and admirable performance as an elder statesman and honest broker made this far, far easier.

His eulogies for American presidents demonstrated not only his own political, diplomatic and personal achievements, but also to the world that America... selfish, protectionist America, acknowledges Canada as having the deeper "special relationship", one of familiarity and trust that enables us to be welcomed inside their tent with greater ease than anyone else.

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If JT consulted him, let's pray PP has.

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I think the picture is at St FX university, in Antigonish, not St Andrews NB (unless there’s a second institute in NB, in which case wow)

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author

This gives me a chance to address this here. (You'll see on the website that I fixed it soon after I sent it yesterday.)

Turns out it's *tremendously difficult* to find a mailing address for the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government. Handling Brodie's (remarkably clean) copy and picking two Scotti photos took me all of 10 minutes. Looking for an address for the BMIG took another 10. Finally Google Maps told me it's on such-and-such street in St. Andrew's, NS (which is different from the one in NB). So I wrote that, and then a StFX alum wrote to say, no, it's totally in Antigonish, and St. Andrew's is a village a few kilometres away, and the Mulroney school isn't there, so I fixed it. Anyway, that was a strange little rabbit hole I went down. Don't know what Google Maps was thinking.

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Thanks for response. I've also been led astray by Google Maps, so I sympathize. And I learned that there is a St. Andrew's Nova Scotia, so banner day. What's also interesting is that the picture is taken in the Mulroney Centre ... which serves as a pseudo-presidential style library for Mulroney. Behind Mulroney and his wife is a replica of his PMO office ... and around the building are displays that feature elements of Mulroney's time as Prime Minister, including gifts he received as PM, and a display about the Meech Lake Accord. It's fascinating ... and the building is beautiful. It also speaks to his personality, and the fundraising plaque (which lists donors) is also very telling about the man. I appreciate the tributes ... I wasn't aware of his role in helping to end apartheid. I was never a fan (although I appreciated his environmental work) but it's interesting that so few people are talking about his spending issues. The debt and deficit he left behind caused enormous financial hardships for Canadians. He did make an impact, though. God speed.

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