Canadians had the opportunity Saturday to witness the final official goodbye to the late Brian Mulroney, who as prime minister led Canada from 1984 to 1993.
His time in office coincided with the end of the Cold War and he helped to lead the fight against apartheid in South Africa. His government enacted a series of important environmental accords, introduced the GST and launched the modern era of free trade in North America.
Here are a few moments you may have missed:
A star-studded event
Mulroney’s state funeral in Montreal was attended by roughly 1,300 people, including some of the most prominent figures in Canadian politics, culture and business.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre and the heads of Canada’s other federal parties were in attendance, along with numerous provincial leaders. Former prime ministers Stephen Harper, Jean Chretien and Joe Clark were there, along with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and several former governors general.
Numerous other celebrated Canadians filled the pews in Notre-Dame Basilica, including actor Ryan Reynolds, media baron Pierre Karl Péladeau (who delivered a eulogy), Loblaw head Galen Weston and founder of the Bloc Québécois Lucien Bouchard.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, sits in a front pew with, from left to right, Gov-Gen. Mary Simon, her husband Whit Fraser, Quebec Premier Francois Legault and his wife Isabelle Brais, at the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney in Montreal on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)
As they waited for the ceremony to begin, political allies and rivals shook hands and exchanged words — including former Parti Québécois leader Pauline Marois, former Quebec Liberal leader Philippe Couillard and leading figures in the modern Conservative Party and the Progressive Conservative party it replaced, among them MP Andrew Scheer and Peter MacKay.
Mulroney’s singing voice
The funeral featured a mix of classical music, religious songs and more modern compositions, including a rendition of Danny Boy by The Tenors and Mais qu’est-ce que j’ai?, sung by Mulroney’s granddaughter Elizabeth Theodora Lapham.
One of the more poignant moments happened during a performance of When Irish Eyes are Smilingby Lapham and Marc Hervieux, when the assembly heard a recording of Mulroney singing the final verse.
WATCH: Mourners hear Mulroney’s voice during emotional tribute
Voice of Brian Mulroney lives on in emotional tribute from granddaughter
3 hours ago
Duration 2:18
Audio of the late prime minister singing, ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling’ completed a musical tribute by his granddaughter Elizabeth Theodora Lapham and tenor Marc Hervieux.
A recording of the late prime minister singing We’ll Meet Again in his famous baritone was played as mourners filed out of the basilica at the end of the service.
Mulroney, who loved to sing, recorded a CD of 18 songs for his 16 grandchildren, his son Ben Mulroney told CBC earlier this week.
Caroline Mulroney’s moving eulogy
Mulroney’s funeral featured a number of eulogies, including words from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and Prime Minister Trudeau. Former Progressive Conservative leader Jean Charest spoke about his experience working with the late prime minister as a cabinet member, and a representative of former U.S. secretary of state James Baker discussed Mulroney’s free trade legacy.
Caroline Mulroney, the late prime minister’s daughter, delivered the first eulogy. The Ontario provincial minister touched on both Mulroney’s experiences in politics and his role as father and husband.
“He gave me love, confidence and strength,” she said.
WATCH: Caroline Mulroney describes her father’s last moments
Caroline Mulroney recalls last words shared by Brian and Mila Mulroney
5 hours ago
Duration 1:14
In her eulogy, Caroline Mulroney remembers her father’s last day. ‘His body was tired but his heart would not let him give us up.’
She also shared the story of Brian Mulroney’s final words to his wife, Mila Mulroney.
“We will not have enough [time in] our lifetime to hear all the stories about when he reached out to friends, opponents and people he had never met,” Charest said.
Memories of phone calls
Many guests interviewed by CBC News on Saturday morning spoke of their own experiences with Mulroney, which often began with a phone call.
Prime Minister Trudeau said during his eulogy that his thoughts were with Mulroney’s family and that he understood some of what they were going through. The last time he spoke in Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, he noted, was during the funeral of his own father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
He also told mourners that, during one of the many phone conversations he had with his predecessor, he learned that Mulroney also kept in touch with his mother, Margaret Trudeau.
Trudeau said that while he hadn’t known the two had talked, he wasn’t surprised, given Mulroney’s many contacts with Canadians from all walks of life.
WATCH: Trudeau pays tribute to Brian Mulroney
‘He loved this country with all his heart:’ Trudeau remembers Brian Mulroney
5 hours ago
Duration 6:57
Speaking at Brian Mulroney’s state funeral, Justin Trudeau said the former prime minister loved connecting with Canadians and hearing their stories.
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
MONTREAL – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not be taking advice from Pierre Poilievre after the Conservative leader challenged him to bring down government.
“I say directly to Pierre Poilievre: I’m not going to listen to you,” said Singh on Wednesday, accusing Poilievre of wanting to take away dental-care coverage from Canadians, among other things.
“I’m not going to listen to your advice. You want to destroy people’s lives, I want to build up a brighter future.”
Earlier in the day, Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”
“I’m asking Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to commit unequivocally before Monday’s byelections: will they vote non-confidence to bring down the costly coalition and trigger a carbon tax election, or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said.
“It’s put up or shut up time for the NDP.”
While Singh rejected the idea he would ever listen to Poilievre, he did not say how the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion.
“I’ve said on any vote, we’re going to look at the vote and we’ll make our decision. I’m not going to say our decision ahead of time,” he said.
Singh’s top adviser said on Tuesday the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.
Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.
“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said in an interview.
New Democrat MPs are in a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.
The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the governing Liberals.
It’s also taking place in the very city where New Democrats are hoping to pick up a seat on Monday, when voters go to the polls in Montreal’s LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. A second byelection is being held that day in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona, where the NDP is hoping to hold onto a seat the Conservatives are also vying for.
While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger a general election.
Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.
He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.
Singh has attacked Poilievre as someone who would bring back Harper-style cuts to programs that Canadians rely on, including the national dental-care program that was part of the supply-and-confidence agreement.
The Canadian Press has asked Poilievre’s office whether the Conservative leader intends to keep the program in place, if he forms government after the next election.
With the return of Parliament just days away, the NDP is also keeping in mind how other parties will look to capitalize on the new makeup of the House of Commons.
The Bloc Québécois has already indicated that it’s written up a list of demands for the Liberals in exchange for support on votes.
The next federal election must take place by October 2025 at the latest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is defending her decision to turn off comments on her social media accounts — with an announcement on social media.
She posted screenshots to X this morning of vulgar names she’s been called on the platform, and says comments on her posts for months have been dominated by insults, to the point that she decided to block them.
Montreal’s Opposition leader and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized Plante for limiting freedom of expression by restricting comments on her X and Instagram accounts.
They say elected officials who use social media should be willing to hear from constituents on those platforms.
However, Plante says some people may believe there is a fundamental right to call someone offensive names and to normalize violence online, but she disagrees.
Her statement on X is closed to comments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
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