Brian Mulroney, the former Prime Minister of Canada who established strong connections with two Republican U.S. presidents, has passed away at the age of 84. His legacy includes a significant free trade agreement that was initially criticized but is now viewed positively.
The country’s 18th prime minister died peacefully and surrounded by family, daughter Caroline Mulroney said in a post on X. Mulroney’s family said last summer he was improving daily after a heart procedure that followed treatment for prostate cancer in early 2023. A family spokesman said Mulroney died at a hospital in Palm Beach, Florida, where he was being treat after a recent fall.
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Brian Mulroney: a Canadian Prime Minister Who Shaped Trade and Politics
Leader of the Progressive Conservative party from 1983 to 1993, Mulroney served almost a decade as prime minister after he was first elected in 1984 after snagging the largest majority in Canadian history with 211 of 282 seats.
The win would mark Canada’s first Conservative majority government in 26 years. His government was re-elect in 1988. Mulroney entered the job with widespread support, but he left with the lowest approval rating in Canadian history. His Progressive Conservative party suffered a devastating defeat just after he left office. But in the years after the loss, prime ministers sought his advice.
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Mulroney: A Statesman Who Shaped the Past, Present, and Future of Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised Mulroney for his bold initiatives that significantly influenced Canadian history and will continue to impact the nation’s trajectory. Trudeau emphasized Mulroney’s exceptional statesmanship and lamented his loss.
The man known for his charm and Irish blarney — a gift for the gab — was an ardent advocate of stronger US-Canadian relations. He pushed a free trade deal forward in no small part due to his chumminess with US President Ronald Reagan.
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