Watching the many eulogies at former prime minister Brian Mulroney’s funeral this past weekend, reading and listening to the deluge of commentary from journalists and public figures, past and present, what shines through is a man, whose life and career mattered in ways that have shaped and will continue to shape our country’s future. Pictured: Brian Mulroney. Photo Credit: Parliament of Canada.
This writer is fond of saying that there is nothing like retiring, passing away or being defeated in politics to improve your reputation. As time scours our memories, events that seemed of gargantuan proportions at the time, fade away until we are left with what truly mattered about our lives.
And so it was with the Rt. Honourable Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister, who passed away last month at the age of 84.
Watching the many eulogies at his funeral this past weekend, reading and listening to the deluge of commentary from journalists and public figures, past and present, what shines through is a man, whose life and career mattered in ways that have shaped and will continue to shape our country’s future.
But equally and rarely, his practice of reaching out to friend and foe in times of celebration or sorrow, have marked the lives of many individuals in memorable and sometimes profound ways.
The passage of time allows us to truly appreciate what he accomplished on the national and international stage, from the Canada-U.S. free trade treaty which transformed our economy to significant treaties to stop acid rain and ozone emissions and fight climate change to his successful international leadership to end South African apartheid and his efforts to fight antisemitism.
His leadership in and out of government mattered in a substantial and positive way to this country and to our place on the world stage. Oh, how we miss that in our country today.
But for those of us who have been, still are or may be on the political stage, his legacy includes some important lessons.
He used to advise politicians to build up their “political capital.” As a politician, you need to invest in your ability to make big things happen, just like you would invest in a personal savings account.
And don’t be afraid to do those big things, he would counsel. “If your only objective is to be popular, you’re going to be popular but you will be known as the Prime Minister who achieved nothing,” he once said.
He was not afraid to follow his own advice or to pay the political price, resigning from office with one of the lowest levels of popular support for a Prime Minister. And while some of Mulroney’s “big things,” like constitutional reform did not end well, the ones he did accomplish, more than made up for the misses. Even the Goods and Services Tax (GST), widely reviled at the time, has proved a highly useful revenue source for future federal governments.
In the midst of all the commentary about the “big things,” however, were heartwarming anecdotes from the people whose lives he touched with a telephone call. Just to say hi, to congratulate, to commiserate, to listen, to offer sage advice, to show that he cared.
Mulroney may have been the Prime Minister of a G7 country, but he always made the time to reach out to his family, his friends and colleagues, even his political adversaries.
Political life is tough and keeping friends and family close through it all is tougher still. But he managed to maintain not only a close-knit family, but to engender loyalty and respect from an incredible array of friends, acquaintances, colleagues and foes.
Relationships matter, he was never tired of reminding politicians. Criticized at the time for shamelessly currying favour with American presidents, Mulroney would often tell the story about how his strong relationship with President Ronald Reagan was able to save the free trade agreement at the last minute.
“There have been 23 Prime Ministers since Confederation but only a handful of those have a claim to greatness, to a legacy that outlasts headlines and becomes historic,” read a Globe and Mail editorial after his death. “Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister is one of those few.”
May he rest in peace.
Janet Ecker is a former Ontario Finance Minister, Minister of Education, Minister of Community and Social Services and Government House Leader in the governments of Premier Mike Harris and Premier Ernie Eves. After her political career, she served as the founding CEO of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, a public-private partnership dedicated to building Toronto region into an international financial centre. She currently sits on a number of corporate and non-profit boards, agencies and advisory committees.
Ms. Ecker received the Order of Canada for her public service contributions and was recognized as one of the “Most Influential People in the World’s Financial Centres” by Financial Centres International. She also received a “Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award” from the Women’s Executive Network and the Richard Ivey School of Business, among other awards. She is also one of the founders of Equal Voice, a national, multi-partisan organization working to elect more women.
