(Ottawa) In the last major interview he gave before leaving office as Prime Minister, in June 1993, Brian Mulroney stated unequivocally that he was not afraid of the judgment of historians.
What there is to know
- Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney died on February 29 at the age of 84.
- A strong majority of Canadians view his record favorably.
- Mr. Mulroney’s state funeral will take place Saturday in Montreal.
“History will do me justice,” he declared in a serene tone to the journalist Michel Vastel, of the magazine News. “If we’re not controversial, it’s because we haven’t done anything!” And I could have done nothing in the constitutional field, international trade, taxation… Anyone can buy peace with taxpayers’ money. »
A first survey published since Brian Mulroney’s death on his main achievements proves him right across the board. A strong majority of Canadians – 83% – believe that the record of the Progressive Conservative government he led from 1984 to 1993 is positive.
This “remarkable” judgment made by Canadians transcends political allegiances and age groups, according to the survey conducted online by the spark*advocacy firm led by respected pollster Bruce Anderson. The survey was conducted among 1,700 Canadians from March 12 to 15.
Thus, Canadians who support the Liberal Party of Canada judge Mr. Mulroney’s record favorably (87%), as do those who support the Conservative Party (85%) or the New Democratic Party (75%). Quebecers who support the Bloc Québécois are even more complimentary: 90% of them look favorably on the great achievements of the “little guy from Baie-Comeau”.
“Brian Mulroney was colorful and some of his major policy initiatives were quite controversial. But he remained convinced that his efforts to promote policies whose popularity was questionable at the time were the right thing to do and that over time they might also gain greater public acceptance,” Mr. Anderson said.
Brian Mulroney’s efforts to negotiate a free trade agreement with the United States (85%), his efforts to conclude an acid rain treaty (83%) with Washington, the fight he led against the apartheid regime of South Africa (82%) and the constitutional negotiations which resulted in the Meech Lake Accord and the Charlottetown Accord to convince Quebec to sign the Constitution (75% ) are welcomed by a solid majority of respondents.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, THE CANADIAN PRESS
The Peace Tower flag was lowered to half-mast.
Even the controversial GST, a tax hated by consumers when it was adopted in 1990, is seen today with a completely different perspective. No less than 63% of those questioned believe that this is a good measure.
“At the time the free trade agreement was negotiated, public opinion was divided almost 50-50, as many people feared that Canada would lose its cultural identity and be overwhelmed economically. Today, this flagship Mulroney policy is considered an important element of Canada’s economic success. His GST was a major political issue, but today most people think it was the right way to go,” Mr. Anderson added.
In the interview he gave to NewsBrian Mulroney confided that he expected to break records of unpopularity by advocating vast reforms that would arouse passions.
“I was the most popular prime minister in Canadian history. And the most unpopular too. I was at the peak of popularity when I was new, because I hadn’t done anything yet. I made some tough decisions, and lost a lot of popularity. (…) After a while, I realized that I could be a good prime minister or a popular prime minister. But not both at the same time. I could leave on a wave of popularity. But my son Nicolas would not have time to grow up before someone would already say to him: “Your father seriously lacked courage.” »
The results of this poll are published at a time when tributes continue to pour in for the former prime minister, who died on February 29 at the age of 84.
Solemn parade
On Tuesday, a solemn parade of dignitaries and personalities offered their condolences to Mr. Mulroney’s family in Ottawa, where the former prime minister lies in state near Parliament Hill.
A guard of honor of police officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), in red tunics, carried the coffin draped with the maple leaf of the 18e Prime Minister inside the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, across from Parliament Hill. Protocol obliges, it was the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, and her husband who first came to pay tribute to the deceased and greet his loved ones.
PHOTO BLAIR GABLE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Justin Trudeau paid his respects at the former prime minister’s coffin on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then entered alone, before offering his condolences to the members of the Mulroney family, then spending a few moments in front of the coffin. Mr. Trudeau then went to the book of condolences, near an official portrait of Mr. Mulroney, framed by flowers. Other personalities then came to this first day of ardent chapel.
A guard of honor around the coffin, made up of RCMP police officers, military personnel and members of the Parliamentary Protective Service, changes every 30 minutes. The awards and medals that Mr. Mulroney received during his career are displayed in a small box placed on the coffin.
Canadians who wish to pay tribute to Mr. Mulroney in Ottawa will be able to pay their respects at his remains this Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The population will also be able to pay tribute to the former Quebec Prime Minister on Thursday and Friday in Montreal, at the Basilica of Saint-Patrick. On Saturday morning, Mr. Mulroney’s remains will be transported to the Notre-Dame Basilica, in Old Montreal, for the state funeral at 11 a.m.
With The Canadian Press
See the survey results
reference: www.lapresse.ca