Public respects for former PM
DIGNITARIES, POLITICIANS JOIN FAMILY OF BRIAN MULRONEY AS HE LIES IN STATE IN OTTAWA
Asolemn parade of dignitaries and VIPS offered condolences Tuesday to the family of Brian Mulroney as the former prime minister began lying in state near Parliament Hill.
A guard of honour dressed in red serge gingerly delivered Mulroney's flag-shrouded casket to the main hall of the Sir John A. Macdonald Building.
Before the doors opened, Mila Mulroney and their children, Caroline, Ben, Mark and Nicholas, were given a private moment with the remains.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and husband Whit Fraser were first to pay their respects.
Simon was followed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who walked in alone before greeting family members and bowing his head at the casket.
Trudeau then lingered over a book of condolences against a backdrop of Mulroney's official portrait, framed by an elaborate display of flowers.
Other VIPS who were on hand early in the day included former prime minister Joe Clark, House Speaker Greg Fergus, former governor general Michaelle Jean and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
There was visible warmth on display between the Mulroney clan and Poilievre and his wife Anaida, both of whom shared laughs and warm embraces with Mila Mulroney and her children as they proceeded through the receiving line.
Former Green party leader Elizabeth May, who gave an impassioned speech in Mulroney's honour Monday in the House of Commons, stood before the casket as she made the sign of the cross, a visible expression of grief on her face.
U.S. Ambassador David Cohen greeted the Mulroney family, chatting with Mila for several minutes before shaking hands with Caroline, Nick, Ben and Mark, along with Mark's wife Vanessa and Caroline's husband Andrew Lapham.
All morning, members of the guard of honour stood sentry at each corner of the casket, their ranks — RCMP officers, Armed Forces members, Parliamentary Protective Services personnel — changing every 30 minutes.
Awards and medals Mulroney received over the course of his career were on display on a small box atop the casket.
He served as prime minister from 1984 to 1993, winning two majority Conservative governments and pushing through free trade with the U.S. and the GST.
Mulroney died on Feb. 29 in Palm Beach, Fla., after a fall. He was 84.
Joe Clark, who was Conservative prime minister from 1979 until 1980, paused before the casket and complimented Mulroney's “ability to take his substantial talents and apply with enormous consistency and discipline to trying to make the country a better place,” according to the CBC.
On Monday, Mulroney's wife and children sat in the House of Commons gallery to hear glowing tributes and funny stories from politicians across the partisan spectrum.
“We're truly honoured from people across the country and internationally that have taken the time to reach out to say nice things and words of comfort. I just want to thank everybody on behalf of the family,” said Nicholas Mulroney, the CBC reported.
Members of the public who wish to pay tribute to Mulroney are able to visit his casket in person until 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Security screening is required for visitors and several downtown streets near Parliament Hill are closed.
The public will also be able to pay their respects 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.