Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada, listens during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico relationship, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Politicians, dignataries and celebrities joined members of the public at a state funeral to honor Brian Mulroney, one of Canada’s most consequential prime ministers who in the 1980s solidified trade ties with the U.S. and spoke out against South Africa’s apartheid. Mulroney died Feb. 29 at age 84 (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Former Quebec premier Philippe Couillard arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Former Montreal Canadiens defenceman Serge Savard arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Green Party Leader Elizabeth May arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Ontario Premier Doug Ford arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Guests arrive to the funeral of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) Former Conservative MP Peter McKay arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney alongside his wife Nazanin Afshin-Jam, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, centre right, speaks with deputy leader Jonathan Pedneault as they arrive for the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Former Conservative MP Peter McKay arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney alongside his wife Nazanin Afshin-Jam, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau places his hand on the casket during the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian Press via AP) Caroline Mulroney delivers a eulogy from the pulpit for her father, former prime minister Brian Mulroney, during his funeral in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian Press via AP) Mila Mulroney, wife of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, wipes away tears as his casket is guided in, during his funeral in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian Press via AP) Mila Mulroney, looks on alongside immediate family members as the casket rests in the aisle at the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian Press via AP) Gov-Gen. Mary Simon arrives to the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) The immediate family of Brian Mulroney look on as RCMP pallbearers carry the casket to the funeral of the former prime minister, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Son of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, Nicolas Mulroney, touches his father's casket at the start of the funeral service the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP) RCMP pallbearers carry the casket funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP) Mila Mulroney, wife of the late former prime minister Brian Mulroney, centre left, and their daughter Caroline arrive to the funeral of the former prime minister, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Mila Mulroney, wife of the late former prime minister Brian Mulroney, centre left, and their daughter Caroline arrive to the funeral of the former prime minister, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP) Former NHL player Wayne Gretzky speaks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) Actor Ryan Reynolds, second from left, and former NHL player Wayne Gretzky, right, sit in pews at the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) Wayne Gretzky places his hand on the casket after giving a speech during the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP) The casket carrying the former prime minister Brian Mulroney is carried from St. Patricks Basilica as the family looks on before it is taken to Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Peter McCabe /The Canadian Press via AP) Ben Mulroney puts his hand on his father's casket during the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian Press via AP) The casket carrying theThe funeral cortège of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is taken through the streets of Montreal as it is taken to Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Peter McCabe /The Canadian Press via AP) Mourners look on during the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian Press via AP) Brian Mulroney's immediate family members look on from the pew during the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in Montreal, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Ryan Remiorz
TORONTO (AP) — Politicians, dignitaries and celebrities joined members of the public Saturday at a state funeral to honor Brian Mulroney, one of Canada’s most consequential prime ministers who in the 1980s solidified trade ties with the U.S. and spoke out against South Africa’s apartheid.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and hockey great Wayne Gretzky were among the attendees at Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica. Mulroney, who died Feb. 29 at age 84, was prime minister for nine years between 1984 and 1993 and led the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
“He shaped our history. He got the big things right,” Trudeau said to reporters outside the church before going in. “He had a huge impact.”
Mulroney's legacy includes the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed between Canada, the United States and Mexico during his time as prime minister, his participation in the fight against South African apartheid, the 1991 acid rain accord with the U.S. and the introduction of an unpopular sales tax that represents a significant amount of government revenue.
Trudeau, Gretzky and others delivered eulogies.
“Mr. Mulroney was one of the greatest prime ministers we ever had,” Gretzky said.
Former U.S. Secretary State James Baker was scheduled to delivery an eulogy, but couldn't attend because of recent back surgery. Tim McBride, a former senior White House official who worked with Baker during George. H.W. Bush’s presidency, delivered Baker’s remarks in his place.
“To those of us south of the Canadian border Brian Mulroney was a friend, a staunch, supportive friend who had the confidence to tell us when he thought a different American approach might serve our country better. We always listened to Brian Mulroney,” McBride said on behalf of Baker.
The guest list included four former prime ministers — Jean Chrétien, Joe Clark, Stephen Harper and Kim Campbell, as well as 12 current provincial premiers or territorial leaders.
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was also on the list, as was former U.K. Prime Minister John Major and actor Ryan Reynolds.
The funeral followed four days of public tributes in Montreal and Ottawa during which political dignitaries and members of the public filed by Mulroney’s casket and paid their respects to his wife Mila and four children.
“Every day of my life my dad told me that I was the greatest daughter that God put on this earth. Now we all know how much he liked hyperbole, but how lucky am I,” Caroline Mulroney, his daughter, said in her eulogy. “He gave me love, confidence and strength ... we are heartbroken by our loss. We adored him. I miss you daddy.”
Mulroney had enduring friendships with former U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bush and eulogized both at their funerals.
Reagan and Mulroney became friends as two national leaders during the last decade of the Cold War. Mulroney’s nine years in power overlapped with Bush’s four.
A tearful Elizabeth Theodora Lapham, Mulroney’s granddaughter, sang Mulroney's favorite song at the funeral as well as “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." She was given a standing ovation.
Few Canadians around during his reign have forgotten the widely broadcast Mulroney-Reagan duet of “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” at the Shamrock summit in Quebec City in 1985, named after the pair’s Irish heritage and the fact that their meeting fell on St. Patrick’s Day. The 24-hour meeting opened the door to future free trade talks between the countries.
And as his funeral wrapped up, his rendition of “We’ll Meet Again” echoed in the cavernous church as his flag-wrapped casket was escorted away by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police honor guard.
It was Mulroney’s amiable relationship with his southern counterparts that helped develop a free trade treaty, a hotly contested pact at the time. The trade deal led to a permanent realignment of the Canadian economy and huge increases in north-south trade. Canada is one of the most trade dependent nations in the world and more than 75% of its trade goes to the U.S.
Mulroney was first elected in 1984 after winning the largest majority in Parliament in Canadian history, but he left almost a decade later with the lowest approval rating in Canadian history. His Progressive Conservative party suffered a devastating defeat just after he left office. But in the years after the loss, prime ministers sought his advice.
“Brian Mulroney chose to spend his political capital. He took risks and by doing so he became one of those rarest of leaders, able to define an era as his own,” former Quebec Premier Jean Charest said.
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A previous version of this story was corrected to show that James Baker wasn’t in attendance at the funeral.
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