Canadian History: June 2012

Brian Mulroney rises from political defeat at the hands of Joe Clark to take the often fractured Progressive Conservative party into the 1984 general election. He goes on to a huge landslide victory over John Turner's Liberals. During the campaign, Mulroney criticizes the Trudeau era as being unnecessarily hostile towards the United States, corrupt, and free spending. Amongst other things, Mulroney promises to build a better, more harmonious relationship with America that will lead to better policy and prosperity for Canadians.

To that end, Mulroney takes on what is to become his greatest political accomplishment - a free trade deal with the United States. It is an historic achievement since other attempts to get a free trade deal with the United States have ended badly for politicians, as the country succumbs to fears of not being able to compete with its larger, more powerful neighbor, the potential loss of Canadian jobs and the fear of losing its independence.

Mulroney, though saddled with personal popularity challenges like many Canadian Prime Ministers after a period of governing, manages to win a second election giving him a mandate to move forward with the bold deal. He does so largely by giving Canadians a sense of confidence that they can and must compete if the country is going to survive and grow. His personal optimism has a lasting effect on public perception.

Mulroney's ascendancy on the world stage, which makes him at one point a rumored potential Secretary General of the United Nations, tells Canadians that their nation plays a consequential role in the world. Central to the personal respect and popularity Mulroney builds for himself amongst world leaders is his conviction that political change is based on personal relationships. To that end, Mulroney forges a close personal friendship with U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The Free Trade Agreement and the agreement on acid rain are Mulroney's key achievements based on this friendship.

Mulroney also attempted to achieve national reconciliation with Quebec over not being included as a signatory of the 1982 Constitution. He negotiated the Meech Lake Accord, which was passed in all but two provinces before falling short and then he tried again with the Charlottetown Accord, which was rejected by Canadians in a national referendum.

Mulroney further changed economic policy by instituting the Goods and Services Tax (GST). While the tax was part of a greater strategy for tax reform that would reduce personal income tax and replace the hidden manufacturers sales tax of 18%, the GST was seen as a new tax and its visibility further damaged Mulroney's popularity which was suffering from the failed constitutional conferences and the sharpened divisions that emerged.

Lucien Bouchard, a prominent member of the Quebec wing of the Conservative government headed by Mulroney defected from the party and formed the Bloc Quebecois. Conservatives angry with Mulroney over the GST and his failure to push for a more socially conservative agenda formed the Reform Party. Mulroney himself retired from politics and Kim Campbell led the Conservatives into the next election, where they were reduced to only two seats from a majority of over 150 seats.

In the recent past, Mulroney has received credit for economic reform in Canada, high marks for his work in international relations and even praise for his courage for taking on English-French relations. However, he has been negatively viewed as a result of his involvement in financial dealings with Karl Heinz Schreiber after leaving office as Prime Minister in which it appears Mulroney accepted cash monies in excess of $200,000 that remained in a safe undeclared as income for years. While there is no hard evidence that Schreiber gained influence from Mulroney, the situation is seen as inappropriate and his testimony concerning the matter has raised questions about Mulroney's honesty.

Brian Mulroney - The Boy from Baie Comeau

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/prime-ministers/brian-mulroney-the-negotiator/the-boy-from-baie-comeau.html

Mulroney Defeats Clark to Win Conservative Leadership

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf90BCM7sbc

The 1984 Debate - A Knockout Punch for Mulroney

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_had_an_option,_sir

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/elections/leaders-debates-1968-2011-arguing-for-canada/1984-leaders-debate-highlights.html

The 1984 Election Result

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/prime-ministers/brian-mulroney-the-negotiator/a-stunning-landslide-victory.html