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.
As his wife Mila and their children Nicholas, Mark, Ben and Caroline looked on from the gallery above, leaders and MPs across the partisan spectrum expressed fond memories and admiration for the political giant.
The House of Commons had 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 Mulroney91裸聊视频檚 legacy in what is expected to be a weeklong remembrance of the former prime minister, culminating in a state funeral Saturday.
91裸聊视频淭his 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,91裸聊视频� Trudeau said.
Trudeau said Mulroney was 91裸聊视频渙ne of the lions of Canadian politics,91裸聊视频� and reminisced about spending time with him last year in Nova Scotia on a tour of Mulroney Hall.
As they walked through a replica of the prime minister91裸聊视频檚 Centre Block office, they reflected on the 91裸聊视频渨isdom that he and my dad both shared, that leadership, fundamentally, is about getting the big things right, no matter what your political stripe or your style,91裸聊视频� Trudeau said.
Mulroney also knew how to win, Trudeau said with a smile, 91裸聊视频渁nd he certainly enjoyed it.91裸聊视频�
From the gallery, Mulroney91裸聊视频檚 family members smiled, too, 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 91裸聊视频渄own-to-earth spirit91裸聊视频� that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said exemplified Mulroney91裸聊视频檚 approach to the job.
He told the story about meeting a mechanic in Ottawa whose father was a miner with the Iron Ore Company of Canada, when Mulroney served as its president.
Decades later, when the mechanic91裸聊视频檚 father died, Mulroney called the family, Poilievre said.
91裸聊视频淲hat is so incredible about that phone call is that in interim period, Brian Mulroney fought two leadership races, won two majority governments, shook hands and spent time with presidents, kings, queens and other prime ministers, negotiated free-trade deals, watched the end of the Cold War, sent our troops into the Persian Gulf,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淎nd with all that passing through his mind, he still remembered the miner from the Iron Ore Company.
91裸聊视频淭hat is kindness. That is humility.91裸聊视频�
Mulroney will be remembered as a great Canadian, a great Quebecer and a great prime minister, said Louis Plamondon, who was elected as an MP in Mulroney91裸聊视频檚 party the year he became prime minister.
But the Bloc Qu茅b茅cois MP will remember Mulroney 91裸聊视频渇irst and foremost91裸聊视频� as a family man, Plamondon said in French, offering his condolences to Mulroney91裸聊视频檚 wife and children.
91裸聊视频淗e loved Mila, his wife and lifelong companion. He was so proud of his children, and he cherished his role as a grandfather,91裸聊视频� he said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he hopes Mulroney91裸聊视频檚 family finds some comfort in the many memories being shared about him.
Mulroney denounced the injustices of apartheid, Singh said, and helped preserve the social fabric of Canada.
Singh also lauded the former prime minister91裸聊视频檚 environmental record and work to reduce pollution that found its way into Canadian rivers, lakes and forests.
91裸聊视频淎t a time of more heightened divisions, where some political leaders try to score points by pitting one group of people against another, Mr. Mulroney will be remembered as someone who tried to build unity,91裸聊视频� Singh said.
Mulroney91裸聊视频檚 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 Montreal91裸聊视频檚 St. Patrick91裸聊视频檚 Basilica on Thursday and Friday.
Dignitaries, including the Governor General and Trudeau, are set to offer condolences to the Mulroney family Tuesday morning.
A state funeral will be held Saturday morning at Notre-Dame Basilica, with eulogies from Caroline Mulroney, Jean Charest and Wayne Gretzky.
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