The state funeral for Brian Mulroney was held in Montreal on March 23, where family, officials, and dignitaries bade farewell to Canada’s 18th prime minister.
Mr. Mulroney died at his Florida home on Feb. 29. He was 84 years old.
The ceremony started at 11 a.m. ET at Notre−Dame Basilica, where a diverse cross-section of Canadian society gathered, from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hockey great Wayne Gretzky.
Music filled the church as the casket was carried inside, followed by members of the Mulroney family and a group of honorary pallbearers made up of his closest friends.
Earlier, the church’s bells tolled 84 times—one resounding chime for each year of the former prime minister’s life.
Mr. Mulroney’s daughter, Caroline, who was an Ontario cabinet minister, delivered a eulogy at the funeral, saying that her father had been an affectionate and loving family man.
“Every day of my life my dad told me I was the greatest daughter God put on this earth,” she said, tearing up. “But how lucky am I? For almost 50 years I was told something so wonderful every single day. He gave me love, confidence, and strength.”
“Spending time with him was a joy. We would sit in his den and talk for hours.”
Ms. Mulroney said that she discussed her decision to enter politics with her father and that he was not initially in favour, “because he knew well the hardships and being the man in the arena.”
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 on March 23, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)
She praised her mother and her parents’ marriage.
“He didn’t build a tight-knit family or did what he did in politics on his own. He did it every step of the way with my mother.”
She described her parents’ last moments together, saying her mother, Mila, held her husband’s face in her hands and said, “Brian, are you coming back to me?”
His final words to her mother were, “I plan to.”
“His body was tired, but his heart would not give us up,” she said. “We are heartbroken by our loss. We adored him. I miss you, Daddy.”
Tributes
Speaking at the funeral, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his thoughts were with Mr. Mulroney’s children.“For everyone, Brian Mulroney was Mr. Prime Minister, and for you, he was your dad.”
He said that Mr. Mulroney was motivated by service, by leadership, and by “getting the big things right.”
Mr. Trudeau noted that Mr. Mulroney had done “great things” for the environment, including dealing with acid rain and working to fix the hole in the ozone layer.
“For Brian, the sky was not the limit. He led us with the ambition necessary to actually fix the sky.”
He praised the former prime minister for never being “afraid to take on a fight, even though he knew that there would be criticism and attacks that stung.”
“His family saw that. But as he put it himself, leaders must have vision and they must find the courage to fight for the policies that will give that vision life. Leaders must govern not for easy headlines in 10 days, but for a better Canada in 10 years,” Mr. Trudeau said.
Other officials who were in attendance included former cabinet ministers Peter MacKay and Peter Van Loan, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and former Quebec Premier Jean Charest.
Former Prime Ministers Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Joe Clark, and Stephen Harper were also present.
Mr. Gretzky also spoke during the service.
“Mr. Mulroney was one of the greatest prime ministers we’ve ever had,” he said.
“I always [used to] tell my friends around the world, whether it’s funerals or weddings we watched on TV, we'd always say we’re represented by Mila and Brian Mulroney. They make our country proud.”
Tim McBride shared a eulogy on behalf of former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, who he said was recovering from back surgery.
“Brian was as straightforward and direct about defining his role as prime minister as he was at getting things done,” Mr. McBride said.
The eulogy also noted Mr. Mulroney’s accomplishments on free trade, adding that sadly support for free trade has been waning in the United States and around the world.
Mr. McBride ended by saying Mr. Mulroney was an inspirational leader, a beautiful human being, and a friend. He said that U.S. leaders always listened to him.
The funeral ceremony was led by Montreal Archbishop Christian Lépine. Many vocal performances were also part of the service.
The funeral follows four days of public tributes in Montreal and Ottawa during which political dignitaries and members of the public filed past Mr. Mulroney’s casket and paid their respects to his wife and four children.
Mr. Mulroney served as prime minister for nine years, from 1984 to 1993.
His 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, and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.
There was a 19-gun salute in Montreal’s Old Port following the ceremony. The family held a private burial in Montreal.
