Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Brian Mulroney praises Trudeau's leadership, omits any mention of Poilievre

Share
ANTIGONISH, N.S -

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is basking in the praise of Brian Mulroney after the former prime minister said "trash" talk against the Liberal leader will be forgotten in light of historic achievements.

The former Progressive Conservative prime minister made the comments on Monday night to delegates attending the Atlantic Economic Forum, at St. Francis Xavier University, in Antigonish, N.S. Mulroney said history will not be concerned with "the trivia and trash" or with the "rumours and gossip" that are heard in Parliament.

Trudeau will instead be remembered for handling the pandemic as well as any other world leader, and for negotiating the The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement with former U.S. president Donald Trump, Mulroney, who was prime minister from 1984 to 1993, told delegates.

"The pandemic (was) the greatest challenge any prime minister has had to deal with for Canada in 156 years," he said. "This is remarkable and everybody says that our prime minister and premiers conducted themselves as well as anyone around the world."

Mulroney, who advised the federal cabinet during the trade talks with Trump, said Trudeau showed vision and a steady hand during negotiations and helped preserve the country's economy.

Trump was "out to sabotage Canada" during the trade talks and was difficult to negotiate with, Mulroney said. "I saw the prime minister because he invited me in as an adviser to his cabinet and I saw the big decisions he had to take at crucial moments, and I saw the end result of this incredibly challenging negotiation. The end result was a significant victory."

"History is only concerned with the big ticket items that have shaped the future of Canada," he said.

Noticeably absent from Mulroney's speech was any mention of Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Meanwhile, Trudeau seemed to criticize Poilievre, the Opposition leader, when he gestured to Mulroney and said, "There seems to be two kinds of politicians today: those that want to burn things down, and those more like you were, constantly who want to build things up."

Lori Turnbull, director of the school of public administration at Dalhousie University, said in an interview that Mulroney's speech appeared to encourage a return to more informed public debate, rather than as a subtle attack on Poilievre's abrasive style.

She said it's not surprising Mulroney has adopted a collegial approach to the Trudeau government, as have other members of the former Progressive Conservative party.

"I don't take these to be partisan comments," Turnbull said. "I think actually he's talking about a style of politics and what it means to be prime minister. He's praising how the prime minister has handled things, by staying out of the noise of Parliament and taking on his responsibilities."

"Others would say Trudeau has not been present and visible enough on Parliament Hill."

Turnbull said it's possible the former prime minister's comments were an attempt to build Trudeau's support by reminding Canadians that the Liberal government has had noted accomplishments.

"To be fair, (Mulroney) has also interacted with Poilievre," said Turnbull, referring to a dinner that the Opposition leader hosted for Mulroney and his wife, Mila, last fall.

"It's not like he (Mulroney) is icing him," she added.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2023.

IN DEPTH

Opinion

opinion

opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster

A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?

opinion

opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING

BREAKING Liberal government survives confidence vote

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has survived his first confidence vote of the fall sitting. Members of Parliament voted on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's attempt to bring down the Liberal government after question period on Wednesday, and the non-confidence motion was defeated.

A man who "systematically isolated, manipulated, deceived, abused, and exploited" an elderly North Vancouver woman has lost his ownership stake in her home.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to build a tunnel under Highway 401 that would stretch from Brampton to Scarborough.

GRAPHIC WARNING: A woman accusing Jacob Hoggard of sexual assault in northern Ontario told his trial the musician raped, hit and choked her before urinating on her in a hotel room after she attended his band's concert and an after-party eight years ago.

Local Spotlight

An Indigenous artist has a buyer-beware warning ahead of Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Police are looking to the public for help after thieves broke into a Lethbridge ice creamery, stealing from the store.

An ordinary day on the job delivering mail in East Elmwood quickly turned dramatic for Canada Post letter carrier Jared Plourde. A woman on his route was calling out in distress.

Fire has destroyed a barn and 17,000 plants at a family-owned business in Lower Coverdale, N.B.

Before influencers on social media, Canada’s Jeanne Beker was bringing the world of high fashion down to earth and as Calgary’s Glenbow Museum gets a major make-over, it will include a new exhibition showcasing the pop culture icon.

A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

Stay Connected