Brian Mulroney, champion of free trade, brought Canada closer to the U.S. during his reign as prime minister

By Thomas Klassen, York University, Canada

Brian Mulroney — Canada’s 18th prime minister who has died at age 84 — will be remembered for many things, but his most significant decision during two terms in office was to link Canada’s future with the United States.

Unlike Pierre Trudeau, Canada’s Liberal prime minister who had a rocky relationship with several U.S. presidents during the 1960s, ‘70s and '80s, Mulroney was an unabashed Americanophile.

After all, he grew up in Baie-Comeau, Que., a town founded by a wealthy American industrialist — Robert Rutherford McCormick — to produce cheap newsprint for New York and Chicago papers. Mulroney would at times reminisce that as a child he sang songs for McCormick to earn small monetary rewards.

Negotiated Free Trade Agreement

Mulroney’s admiration for American capitalism was evident in his political polices. Within a year after being elected with a large majority in 1984, Mulroney stated he wanted to negotiate a free trade agreement with the United States.

Shortly after that, Mulroney hosted then U.S. president Ronald Reagan for what was called the “Shamrock Summit” in Québec City. The two leaders, both of whom were proud of their Irish heritage, took to the stage at the summit and famously launched into a rendition of When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.

While some Canadians may have cringed at the sight of the two men warbling together, Mulroney’s close relationship with Reagan was a political asset for the Progressive Conservative leader.

A second majority

Mulroney and Reagan signed the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement on Jan. 2, 1988. Mulroney campaigned on the deal during Canada’s general election in November of that year and won a second consecutive majority. Some international media outlets dubbed Mulroney “the Father of North American Free Trade” in stories about his death.

The Mulroney years marked the end of a two-decade reign by the Liberals under Lester Pearson, Trudeau and John Turner.

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