On behalf of the Council for the Corporation of the County Of Dufferin and all our residents, I offer condolences to the family of the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, 18th Prime Minister of our great country, on the sad occasion of his passing.

Prime Minister Mulroney had many accomplishments in his role as our leader.  He was the first Prime Minister to take the environmental portfolio seriously.  He was the first to challenge the United States and demand an acid rain treaty; many younger Canadians may never know the difference this made.  He was the Prime Minister who worked towards and successfully obtained the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and worked with the current government to renegotiate it a few short years ago. NAFTA was groundbreaking legislation for its time, and a model by which other trade agreements came to follow.

Brian Mulroney was a leader on many fronts, not the least of which was human rights. He is known across the world as a champion for the rights of people regardless of their background. Brian Mulroney was one of the first world leaders to call for an end to apartheid and then rally other leaders to demand it end as well. Nelson Mandela personally credited Brian Mulroney as being a big voice in the end of apartheid.

Prime Minister Mulroney is also known for bringing in the GST. History has shown that this set our country on a path to fiscal sustainability and led to true economic reform in Canada.

Mulroney was known as a statesman worldwide. He was known as the man who got Canada to “punch above its weight” on the world stage.  He tried to unite Canada and bring Quebec into our constitution. He was a large part of the multinational force to push Iraq from their invasion of Kuwait. He was a statesman asked to eulogize two American Presidents.

His Irish ancestry was always on display when dealing with people. He was respected by friends and foes alike and honoured by other world leaders. A confidante to many leaders, a mentor to others, he was truly a giant in Canadian politics. Prime Minister Mulroney will be missed.