Achi news desk-
The state funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney is expected to begin within hours in Montreal.
Mulroney, who was Canada’s 18th prime minister, died at the age of 84 on February 29 in Florida. He led the country as a Progressive Conservative from 1984 to 1993.
Born in Baie-Comeau, Que., in 1939, he will go down as one of Canada’s most prominent figures.
Hundreds came to Ottawa this week to pay their respects while Mulroney lay in state at the Sir John A. Macdonald building, a few steps from Parliament. Mulroney’s body was then taken to Montreal on Wednesday, where he was laid to rest at St. Patrick’s Basilica on Friday.
Mulroney’s state funeral will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. eastern at Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal (110 Notre-Dame St. W.).
Here’s what to expect.
Coverage plans from Global News
Global News will host a live special in Montreal starting at 10:30 am eastern, hosted by Global national Anchor Dawna Friesen, alongside Sen. Pamela Wallin, Western Bloc‘s Mercedes Stephenson and Global national Quebec reporter Mike Armstrong.
Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.
Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.
Before the ceremony begins, a funeral cortege consisting of an RCMP mounted escort, Canadian Armed Forces escort and honor guard, Royal Canadian Air Force Band, RCMP pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will make its way to Notre-Dame Basilica.
The ceremony will include religious components that include prayers, readings, hymns and communion, the government said. Tributes will be offered by Mulroney’s daughter Caroline, as well as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, prominent Quebec businessman Pierre Karl Péladeau, retired NHL star Wayne Gretzky, former US secretary of state James Baker and former premier the minister of Quebec, Jean Charest.
“During the ceremony, musical interludes will be performed by members of the symphonique de Montréal Orchester (OSM) and the OSM Chorus, led by internationally renowned conductor Rafael Payare,” the federal government said.
“Canadian artists including The Tenors, Marc Hervieux, Marie-Josée Lord, and Elizabeth Theodora Lapham, granddaughter of the Right Honorable Brian Mulroney, will also perform. Some of the performances will be accompanied by Scott Price on the piano.”
A 19-gun salute will be fired at the end of the ceremony from the Clock Tower Pier in the Old Port of Montréal.
Canadian flags, which have been flying at half-mast on the Peace Tower and in all federal buildings and institutions in Canada since February 29, will remain so until sunset on Saturday.
On Saturday, Corus Radio talk show host Roy Green will also give a full recap of the funeral The Roy Green Show between 2 and 3 pm eastern across all Corus AM stations in Canada.
Corus is the parent company of Global News.
The show will be followed by a special programme, Remembering Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney: A Family Tribute, chaired by the son of the late prime minister, Ben Mulroney. The show will feature special guests including former US president Bill Clinton, former president George W. Bush, Gretzky, Michael Bublé, winner of five Grammy awards, and famous actress and singer Reba McEntire.
A shortened version of the one-hour special will also air one day earlier on Friday, March 22, at 5 pm eastern, 9 am central, 2 pm mountain and 6 pm Pacific.
Officials reflect on Mulroney’s legacy
Trudeau told reporters last month that Mulroney “was committed to this country, loved it with all his heart and served it for many years in many different ways.”
Former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna said on Western Bloc earlier this month that Mulroney will always be considered the “greatest” prime minister in Atlantic Canada.
“I think when he is judged by history, he will be regarded as one of our most consequential prime ministers by far,” he said.
In a special memorial program broadcast Saturday on all Corus AM radio stations, Clinton praised Mulroney’s willingness to move forward with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) despite skepticism about the agreement among the Canadian public at the time.
“You have to take some risks … and he was willing to,” Clinton told Global about the special Remembering Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney: A Family Tribute.
“I still think we did the right thing with NAFTA, and I think the results prove that. And the fact (the deal) has had to be upgraded after 25 years doesn’t bother me one bit.”
— with files from Global News’ Aaron D’Andrea and Alex Boutilier
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
