When Trump was preparing to rip up NAFTA and impose import restrictions that would have crippled Canadian manufacturing, the former PM stepped up to help.
Well written, thank you. True leadership is very hard to find. Someone willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of all. Hard decisions made when needed. This incessant use of 30 seconds of “look at me” social media in all aspects of our life does not value the complexity of issues. Performative politics are the normal and we see the result of that everywhere.
I appreciate knowing more about this part of the former Prime Minister's legacy. It's a great example of non-partisan, non-polarizing leadership undertaken to benefit the greater good of all Canadians. It's a lesson we should keep learning from.
As one who reviled Mr. Mulroney at the time, I have had to revise my estimation of him over the years. This is not simply due to the rather poor PMs we have suffered since Mulroney. He did tackle some very big issues, including those that would normally have passed a conservative by, such acid rain and Apartheid, in a way that we simply do not see anymore. And Canada was his first priority, even if I didn't always agree with how he went about it. This article gives another example of that.
It is worth remembering, I think, that these were the accomplishments (both in office and later) of the son of a small town factory worker – someone who was born in a remote company town, in rural Quebec, long before what is now known as the “Quiet Revolution”.
And from that prosaic beginning: what a remarkable trajectory of personal and institutional achievements - indeed international achievements!
And, of course, what an interesting comparison with current holder of the Prime Minister’s office, who was born in much more auspicious circumstances and has been in place for almost a decade.
Moreover, I am old enough to remember the party leaders who were on the debate stage in 1984 and 1988; and can compare them with those who would be there, today, if an election were called tomorrow. And it is evident that we are living in a very different Canada.
The Mulroney-Turner debate was a watershed moment in election campaigns. Ever since the “knockout blow”, the televised debates have been marketed by a self serving media hyping the ratings, but consistently delivering overrated, boring junk.
The political parties argue over the format and play the stay at home card if the format isn’t favourable. Why the organizers put up with such BS is a mystery to me. There should be penalties built into the rules to make sure everyone toes the same line and shows up.
The consortium that runs the debate continues to allow a Leader of a Party with next to no seats in Parliament a spot in the action. This dilutes the exposure of leaders that Canadians really want to hear from. It’s craziness.
And don’t get me started about the media “stars”, selected to moderate or ask questions but don’t mind becoming a main part of the action. A reckless question in a 2021 debate was thought to have undermined polling numbers for one of the parties. That’s just plain bad.
Alas the Canada of today is unfortunately governed by a bunch of activist thugs intent upon imposing their warped ideologies on the rest of us and from which little good can ultimately come. No deep thinkers, no statesmen, no diplomats just activist thugs.
But I can't help but wonder if we shouldn't also be reading a "Flipping the Line" on what Mulrooney's legacy teaches us about cronyism, corruption, and white collar crime in Canada. I'm not the person to write it, but I'd certainly like to read it
Good to see another piece about Mulroney that takes the long view about his accomplishments. Yeah, the paper bag episode was pretty clumsy. But it doesn't matter what you think about America - Canada has to go the extra mile to just get along with that country. The free trade agreements made Canada a wealthier country - no question about it. Chretien carried this on in his relationship with Clinton and while it suffered under Bush, not getting involved in Iraq was surely the smart thing to do. And as far as Trudeau is concerned - being a former drama teacher would definitely come in handy when dealing with Trump. Poilievre on the other hand is totally unproven - after all this time, I know what he dislikes and haven't a clue of what he likes. I don't expect much from him.
Mulroney might not have saved the country socially from the weird boomer politics of Trudeau, but he did save it economically.
It was always absolutely bonkers that Canada turned it's back on it's world leader friendly neighbor. And for what? "Economic Sovereignty" which in Canada just meant that our own elites ripped us off and treated us like rubes instead of the Americans. Mulroney brought in free trade and mostly fixed that. We still have destructive economic policies such as protected banking, dairy and cultural industries, but he opened up Canada to the world. For that alone he is one of the greats.
Well written, thank you. True leadership is very hard to find. Someone willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of all. Hard decisions made when needed. This incessant use of 30 seconds of “look at me” social media in all aspects of our life does not value the complexity of issues. Performative politics are the normal and we see the result of that everywhere.
I appreciate knowing more about this part of the former Prime Minister's legacy. It's a great example of non-partisan, non-polarizing leadership undertaken to benefit the greater good of all Canadians. It's a lesson we should keep learning from.
As one who reviled Mr. Mulroney at the time, I have had to revise my estimation of him over the years. This is not simply due to the rather poor PMs we have suffered since Mulroney. He did tackle some very big issues, including those that would normally have passed a conservative by, such acid rain and Apartheid, in a way that we simply do not see anymore. And Canada was his first priority, even if I didn't always agree with how he went about it. This article gives another example of that.
It is worth remembering, I think, that these were the accomplishments (both in office and later) of the son of a small town factory worker – someone who was born in a remote company town, in rural Quebec, long before what is now known as the “Quiet Revolution”.
And from that prosaic beginning: what a remarkable trajectory of personal and institutional achievements - indeed international achievements!
And, of course, what an interesting comparison with current holder of the Prime Minister’s office, who was born in much more auspicious circumstances and has been in place for almost a decade.
Moreover, I am old enough to remember the party leaders who were on the debate stage in 1984 and 1988; and can compare them with those who would be there, today, if an election were called tomorrow. And it is evident that we are living in a very different Canada.
The Mulroney-Turner debate was probably one of the best in that there was a debate and there was a winner unlike today’s version of debate.
The Mulroney-Turner debate was a watershed moment in election campaigns. Ever since the “knockout blow”, the televised debates have been marketed by a self serving media hyping the ratings, but consistently delivering overrated, boring junk.
The political parties argue over the format and play the stay at home card if the format isn’t favourable. Why the organizers put up with such BS is a mystery to me. There should be penalties built into the rules to make sure everyone toes the same line and shows up.
The consortium that runs the debate continues to allow a Leader of a Party with next to no seats in Parliament a spot in the action. This dilutes the exposure of leaders that Canadians really want to hear from. It’s craziness.
And don’t get me started about the media “stars”, selected to moderate or ask questions but don’t mind becoming a main part of the action. A reckless question in a 2021 debate was thought to have undermined polling numbers for one of the parties. That’s just plain bad.
Excellent commentary.
I concur; Mulroney's passing is a huge loss.
'Former advisor' to PMJT?
Must have told Justin something he didn't want to hear.
At least the rest of us can appreciate Mr. Den Tandt's insight through this, and hopefully future, submissions to The Line.
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Alas the Canada of today is unfortunately governed by a bunch of activist thugs intent upon imposing their warped ideologies on the rest of us and from which little good can ultimately come. No deep thinkers, no statesmen, no diplomats just activist thugs.
One of the things I like about The Line comment board is the general lack of hyperbole in the generally well-reasoned and -articulated comments.
.....in any party.
Canadians simply do not know what they do not know.
Channeling Donald Rumsfeld!
For all his controversial (at the time) commentary, this point, which was terrifically derided is probably the most critical to understand.
Good article, solid points...
But I can't help but wonder if we shouldn't also be reading a "Flipping the Line" on what Mulrooney's legacy teaches us about cronyism, corruption, and white collar crime in Canada. I'm not the person to write it, but I'd certainly like to read it
Good to see another piece about Mulroney that takes the long view about his accomplishments. Yeah, the paper bag episode was pretty clumsy. But it doesn't matter what you think about America - Canada has to go the extra mile to just get along with that country. The free trade agreements made Canada a wealthier country - no question about it. Chretien carried this on in his relationship with Clinton and while it suffered under Bush, not getting involved in Iraq was surely the smart thing to do. And as far as Trudeau is concerned - being a former drama teacher would definitely come in handy when dealing with Trump. Poilievre on the other hand is totally unproven - after all this time, I know what he dislikes and haven't a clue of what he likes. I don't expect much from him.
Mulroney might not have saved the country socially from the weird boomer politics of Trudeau, but he did save it economically.
It was always absolutely bonkers that Canada turned it's back on it's world leader friendly neighbor. And for what? "Economic Sovereignty" which in Canada just meant that our own elites ripped us off and treated us like rubes instead of the Americans. Mulroney brought in free trade and mostly fixed that. We still have destructive economic policies such as protected banking, dairy and cultural industries, but he opened up Canada to the world. For that alone he is one of the greats.