MPS pay tribute to former PM Mulroney

Weeklong remembrance, state funeral

OTTAWA • Members of Parliament stood in solemn reflection in the House of Commons Monday in tribute to the late Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada who died last month.

His wife Mila and their children Nicholas, Mark, Ben and Caroline looked on from the gallery above.

The House of Commons ground to a halt when news reached the chamber on Feb. 29, just hours after his death.

Mulroney, who led the country as a Progressive Conservative prime minister from 1984 until 1993, died in Florida at the age of 84. Tributes have poured in ever since from politicians past and present.

When parliamentarians returned to the Commons on Monday after a two-week break, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the first to speak about Mulroney's legacy in what is expected to be a weeklong remembrance of the former prime minister, culminating in a state funeral Saturday.

“This will not be the last week that Canadians will quote him, remember his example, be inspired by his service. It is not just his booming baritone that will forever echo in this chamber, but his values and his leadership,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau said Mulroney was “one of the lions of Canadian politics.”

From the gallery, Mulroney's family members smiled as Trudeau explained that Mulroney was mainly motivated by service.

As prime minister, Mulroney 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.

But it was his “down-toearth spirit” that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said exemplified Mulroney's approach to the job.

Members of all parties have already expressed their admiration and, in many cases, gratitude to Mulroney for his years of service, advice and mentorship.

Mulroney's casket is expected to arrive in Ottawa on Tuesday, where he will lie in state for two days so the public can pay their respects.

The former prime minister will also lie in repose at Montreal's St. Patrick's Basilica on Thursday and Friday.

A state funeral will be held Saturday morning at Notre-dame Basilica, with eulogies from Caroline Mulroney, Jean Charest and Wayne Gretzky.