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 Mulroney鈥檚 legacy in what is expected to be a weeklong remembrance of the former prime minister, culminating in a state funeral Saturday.
鈥淭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,鈥� Trudeau said.
Trudeau said Mulroney was 鈥渙ne of the lions of Canadian politics,鈥� 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 minister鈥檚 Centre Block office, they reflected on the 鈥渨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,鈥� Trudeau said.
Mulroney also knew how to win, Trudeau said with a smile, 鈥渁nd he certainly enjoyed it.鈥�
From the gallery, Mulroney鈥檚 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 鈥渄own-to-earth spirit鈥� that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said exemplified Mulroney鈥檚 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 mechanic鈥檚 father died, Mulroney called the family, Poilievre said.
鈥淲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,鈥� he said.
鈥淎nd with all that passing through his mind, he still remembered the miner from the Iron Ore Company.
鈥淭hat is kindness. That is humility.鈥�
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 Mulroney鈥檚 party the year he became prime minister.
But the Bloc Qu茅b茅cois MP will remember Mulroney 鈥渇irst and foremost鈥� as a family man, Plamondon said in French, offering his condolences to Mulroney鈥檚 wife and children.
鈥淗e loved Mila, his wife and lifelong companion. He was so proud of his children, and he cherished his role as a grandfather,鈥� he said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he hopes Mulroney鈥檚 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 minister鈥檚 environmental record and work to reduce pollution that found its way into Canadian rivers, lakes and forests.
鈥淎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,鈥� Singh said.
Mulroney鈥檚 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 Montreal鈥檚 St. Patrick鈥檚 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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