Brian Mulroney's leadership altered the trajectory of Canada's conservatives. The now-defunct Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, which he led to two consecutive majorities, began to crumble near the end of his time in office, before giving rise to a new political landscape. Eric Sorensen explains.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is remembering former prime minister Brian Mulroney as a politician who understood her province’s interests.
Born in Baie-Comeau, QC., in 1939, Mulroney built a political career marked by leadership of the fractious coalition of Western conservatives, Red Tories and Quebec nationalists that made up the old centrist Progressive Conservative Party, and a legacy of pursuing free trade deals with the U.S. and Mexico, as well as passing the goods and service tax into law.
“That doesn’t always happen … I think that that’s a very unique talent that he had: an understanding that Alberta and Quebec’s interests were actually very much aligned, that the problem was an overbearing central government trying to do too much in areas where it shouldn’t and respecting provincial rights,” Smith said.Haunting ‘knocking’ sound from Titan sub heard for 1st time in new documentary