Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney Dies At 84

Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has passed away at the age of 84.

Caroline Mulroney, an Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament, announced the news on social media yesterday, saying her father died peacefully surrounded by family.

She said details of arrangements would be announced when they become available.

Premier David Eby noted on X that Mulroney was Prime Minister through much of his childhood.

He said although their priorities were different, Mulroney conducted himself as a true statesman and represented our country with pride.

Eby said everyone who serves at that level makes great sacrifices to do so, because they want the country to be strong, united, and prosperous.

He said that was always the focus of Prime Minister Mulroney and that his thoughts were with the family, “as we reflect on the life and contributions of this remarkable Canadian that they shared with us all.”

The Canadian lawyer, businessman, and politician served as the 18th prime minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993.

He successfully became leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 1983, before going on to lead the party to a landslide victory in the 1984 federal election, winning the second-largest percentage of seats in Canadian history (at 74.8 per cent) and receiving over 50 per cent of the popular vote. 

He later won a second majority government in 1988.

Mulroney's tenure as prime minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement, the goods and services tax (GST) that was created to replace the manufacturers' sales tax, and the privatization of 23 of 61 Crown corporations including Air Canada and Petro-Canada.

His tenure was marked by the Air India Flight 182 bombing, the largest mass killing in Canadian history, though his response to the attack came under criticism.

Mulroney made environmental protection a priority by securing a treaty with the United States on acid rain, making Canada the first industrialized country to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity, adding significant national parks (Bruce Peninsula and South Moresby), and passing the Environmental Assessment Act and the Environmental Protection Act.

The unpopularity of the GST and the controversy surrounding its passage in the Senate, combined with the early 1990s recession, the collapse of the Charlottetown Accord, and growing Western alienation that triggered the rise of the Reform Party, caused a major decline in his popularity, which induced Mulroney to resign and hand over power to his cabinet minister Kim Campbell in June 1993.

Until further notice, the flag at the BC Legislature will be flying at half-mast.