Celeste Laube // Canada // March 19, 2024
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is lying in state today. Hundreds are expected to show up to pay their respects. He was the 18th Prime Minister and served from 1984 to 1993. He died on Feb. 29. Dignitaries and members of the public showed up today to pay their respects.
The Mulroney family received many messages of support after his death and wanted to make sure that the public had a chance to show their respects.
Mulroney has a long and complex legacy as one of Canada’s longest-serving Prime Ministers. He is known for his environmental protection policies, his free trade policies and his support of Nelson Mandela during South African apartheid in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
“He cared for people,” said Former Governor General Michaëlle Jean this morning in Ottawa. “He also took up the fight against apartheid, that cause meant a lot to him.”
Jean remembered that he called Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan to get them to do more to end apartheid.
“He would persist when others would just give up,” she said.
Mulroney also called Nelson Mandela during his prison sentence to voice support for him and was a noted advocate against apartheid.
Mulroney’s casket will be lying in state until 6 p.m. today and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. tomorrow. He will then lie in repose on Thursday and Friday at St. Patrick’s Basilica in Montreal.
Mulroney’s funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal.