Although many were children, or not yet born, when former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was in power, many young adults were keen to pay their respects during the celebrations preceding his state funeral. .
In interview with The duty Friday, his son Mark Mulroney testifies to having met dozens of young people who, even born after his father’s departure from political life, say they are deeply marked by his legacy.
“Earlier today, a young man came to see me. He told me that he was 30 years old, that he had not known my father, but that he had read everything about him. It was my father who made him want to become a politician one day,” says Mark on the phone.
He was present in Montreal, alongside the rest of his family, to shake the hands of citizens who came to pay homage to the former prime minister at a funeral service.
Brian Mulroney left politics in 1993, after a historic defeat. Today, every Canadian aged 31 or younger was born after he left.
The man who governed Canada for ten years, between 1984 and 1993, died on February 29 at the age of 84.
Many young people pay tribute to him
This kind of testimony is not rare, adds his son. During the morning of Friday alone, Mark testified that around ten young people told him similar testimonies.
“I find it incredible, because these are not people who could have known my father when he was in politics. But they still learned about what he left in Canada, to his children and his wife,” he says.
During the ardent chapel exhibition in Ottawa, Tuesday and Wednesday, Mark Mulroney was surprised to meet so many young citizens and federal deputies. “There were more young people online [pour lui rendre hommage] who were unable to know my father, compared to the others,” he observed.
What do young people remember most about the former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party?
Even though Mr. Mulroney concluded the historic free trade agreement with the United States and Mexico (NAFTA), is recognized for his defense of the environment and for his fight to end apartheid in Africa from the South, young people say they are especially touched by “its values of integrity”, answers Mark.
“We heard fantastic anecdotes, we saw big smiles, people talking about the “little guy from Baie-Comeau” who called them when they didn’t even know that he knew their names… That’s how it is that he was,” he relates.
Humanism
Mr. Mulroney’s humanism has often been highlighted in the testimonies of numerous heads of state and politicians of all political parties, which have poured in since his death.
This is also what his son hopes the next generation will remember. “We heard so many testimonies, so yes, we know that he was caring and that he was generous, but really, he was the same person in private as in public.”
As the state funeral approaches, which will take place Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Notre-Dame basilica in Montreal, Mark Mulroney now hopes to celebrate his father’s life.
“We’ve been grieving for a few weeks now. That doesn’t mean we won’t cry [samedi]but we want it to be more of a celebration of his life,” he says.
The names of dignitaries attending the state funeral will be made public Saturday morning.