In Ottawa, every politician found something to like in Brian Mulroney

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OTTAWA — The Home of Commons immediately adjourned to mark the demise of former prime minister Brian Mulroney on Thursday night, so the lobby that often bustles with reporters was cavernous and almost abandoned when 90-year-old Jean Chrétien walked to the mic to recollect the person who ruled Canada earlier than him.

When information broke about Mulroney’s demise, statements from politicians, staffers and sorrowful Canadians streamed throughout social media timelines. Chrétien’s choice to unexpectedly seem in entrance of half a dozen reporters and ship a tribute in individual, simply as he had performed after former NDP chief Ed Broadbent’s demise final month, was a press release by itself.

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“He was prime minister for 2 lengthy phrases and I used to be an opponent of him all my political profession. However in politics, opposition is opposition. It’s like enjoying hockey, you possibly can battle on the ice, however you have got a beer collectively after that,” stated Chrétien.

Chrétien stated he loved jousting with Mulroney within the Home of Commons and that they loved teasing one another, regardless that they’d “horrible disagreements” on the problems. Most significantly, Chrétien stated, they each took the job of prime minister severely, however didn’t take themselves too severely, which allowed a friendship to flourish.

“He was himself a minority. He was anglo in Quebec whereas I used to be franco in the remainder of the land. And, you understand, it was attainable coming from rural Quebec to maneuver up the ladder to be prime minister of Canada, as he was, and a really profitable one,” stated Chrétien.

The cascade of tributes from previous and current politicians on Thursday additionally confirmed the extent of Mulroney’s willingness to supply recommendation and assist to the political leaders that got here after him.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated he would “always remember the insights he shared with me through the years” and his deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland stated she loved his “smart counsel” throughout Canada’s fractious NAFTA negotiations in 2018.

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Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre stated he “will at all times be glad about his candid recommendation and beneficiant mentorship to me personally.”

And, in December, when Liberal MP Anthony Housefather endured a torrent of antisemitism brought on by his assist of Israel in its battle in opposition to Hamas, Mulroney referred to as him to supply assist.

“Brian Mulroney took the time to name me and encourage me. That was the sort of man he was. He cared about individuals,” stated Housefather, on X.

A public determine’s demise at all times turns into one thing of a Rorschach check, with individuals seeing their political hopes and goals in a departed chief, however nobody fairly suits that position like Mulroney, who ruled beneath a Progress Conservative banner and made strides on the atmosphere and free commerce and presided over the tip of the Chilly Struggle.

Politicians on the left, together with Inexperienced Occasion Chief Elizabeth Could, NDP Chief Jagmeet Singh and former Setting Minister Catherine McKenna, extolled his document on the atmosphere, together with the profitable battle in opposition to acid rain.

Political leaders on the best, together with Poilievre and former Justice Minister Peter MacKay, harkened again to his extraordinary first election victory when he gained 211 seats, essentially the most in Canadian historical past.

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Requested repeatedly what Mulroney’s greatest accomplishment was, or what he could be remembered for, Chrétien declined to reply, as an alternative selecting to recollect the person himself and their personal conversations. On the subject of political legacies, Chrétien stated he was philosophical about it.

“You recognize, individuals ask me what I’d prefer to be remembered for and we must always not fear about it. Historical past will write what we’ve performed and we must always not fear about it. Anyway, we will be unable to examine, it” stated Chrétien.

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