A state funeral for the late Brian Mulroney will be held later this month, in Montreal.
The federal government made the announced Tuesday.
His casket will lie in state in Ottawa, then lie in repose in Montreal, before the funeral March 23; a chance for Canadians to pay respects to the 18th prime minister, after his passing February 29.
Parliamentarians will pay tribute to Mulroney in the House of Commons, March 18.
Details on the location of the funeral as well as the public viewings, are expected soon.
In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says “Brian Mulroney never stopped working for Canada. He was a champion of the values that unite us as Canadians and will forever be remembered as a force for the common good. His funeral will provide an opportunity to honour his incredible legacy – one that will continue to shape our country for generations to come.”
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Mulroney won the biggest majority in political history, and he helped shape the country.
“He was the son of an electrician who despite those modest beginnings in a working-class community in Baie-Comeau, Quebec, rose to extraordinary heights in business. Before he even turned 40, he was the head of the Iron Ore company, one of the greatest mining companies of all time.”
“As prime minister, he unleashed free enterprise. He crushed inflation. He signed one of the most important free trade agreements in the history of the world with the United States of America that later remains largely in place today. And on the world stage, he stood firmly on the side of freedom and against communism in the Cold War. He was also one of the first and probably the most strident opponent of apartheid in South Africa,” Poilievre added.
Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien says Mulroney had a very good political career, but he was also a family man, “He was himself from a minority. He was Anglo in Quebec, while I was Franco in the rest of the land, and you know, it was possible coming from rural Quebec to move up the ladder to be Prime Minister of Canada as he was a very successful one and I would like to offer to him and his family my most sincere condolences and they can be proud of their father.”
Mulroney was born in Quebec and served as prime minister from 1984 to 1993.
He passed at age 84.
-with files from Steve MacArthur
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