Brian Mulroney

The Right Honourable Martin Brian Mulroney, PC , CC , GOQ , LL.D (born March 20, 1939), was the eighteenth Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993.

Background

The son of a paper mill electrician, he received his high school education at a Catholic boarding school in Chatham, New Brunswick operated by St. Thomas University. He graduated with an undergraduate degree from Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where he was a nationally ranked debater. He then obtained a law degree from Laval University in Quebec City. After graduation, he joined a Montreal law firm, and on May 26, 1973, he married Mila Pivnicki, the daughter of Yugoslav (Serbian) immigrants. The Mulroneys have four children: Nicolas, Mark, Ben and Caroline.

Related Topics:
Catholic - Chatham, New Brunswick - St. Thomas University - Undergraduate - Saint Francis Xavier University - Antigonish - Nova Scotia - Debater - Laval University - Quebec City - Montreal - May 26 - 1973 - Mila Pivnicki - Yugoslav - Serb - Ben - Caroline

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Although Brian Mulroney had not yet held public office, he had worked for the Progressive Conservative Party for years. In 1976, he ran for election as PC leader at the party's leadership convention, but lost to Joe Clark. Following this, Mulroney took the job of Executive Vice President of the Iron Ore Company of Canada, a joint subsidiary of three major U.S. steel corporations. In 1977, he was appointed company President.

Related Topics:
1976 - Party's leadership convention - Joe Clark - Iron Ore Company of Canada - 1977

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By mid-1983, Joe Clark's leadership of the Progressive Conservative party was being questioned. Mulroney organized to defeat Clark at the party's leadership review. When Clark received an endorsement by less than 67 percent of delegates at the party convention, Clark resigned from the leadership, resulting in the 1983 leadership convention. Brian Mulroney was again a candidate, and he campaigned more shrewdly than he had done seven years before. He was elected party leader on June 11, 1983, beating Clark on the fourth ballot. He attracted broad support from the many factions of the party, especially from representatives of his native Québec. After winning a by-election in the riding of Central Nova, Mulroney entered the Canadian House of Commons in Ottawa on August 28, 1983.

Related Topics:
1983 leadership convention - June 11 - 1983 - Québec - By-election - Central Nova - Canadian House of Commons - Ottawa - August 28

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When Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau retired in June 1984, the Liberal Party chose John Turner as its new leader. Turner called a general election for September. The Progressive Conservatives won the largest majority government in the history of Canada with 211 of 282 seats. They also led in every province, emerging as a national party for the first time since the 1958 election. Mulroney is remembered for his performance in the debate in which he attacked Turner over a patronage scandal. Many observers considered the debate a turning point in the campaign.

Related Topics:
Pierre Trudeau - 1984 - John Turner - Election for September - 1958 election

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