Mulroney feted by business and political elite, refuses to speak about his past

“We all take the trade agreement for granted right now but in that day it was a major change in Canadian economic policy and an important one,” Sabia said in an interview.

Mulroney, he said, continues to serve as an example of the importance of government policy and the “impact it can have in the growth trajectory of the country.”

Sabia also saluted Mulroney for his stance against South Africa’s apartheid government in the 1990s.

But a decade ago, the country’s elite weren’t as eager to fete the former Canadian leader.

In 2010, Mulroney’s image was tarnished after Justice Jeffrey Oliphant found the ex-PM had an “inappropriate” relationship with German-Canadian businessman Karlheinz Schreiber.

Mulroney had admitted receiving $225,000 in cash-stuffed envelopes from Schreiber during surreptitious exchanges in hotel rooms in the early 1990s — and keeping it secret for years. But he insisted it was for legal consulting work, not for lobbying government as Schreiber claimed.

Former Quebec premier Jean Charest, who served in Mulroney’s cabinet, said Thursday night’s attendees showed up to honour Mulroney for what he represented and contributed to this country.

“He was one of the most — if not the most — significant prime minister of our modern times,” Charest said.

Mulroney wasn’t interested in speaking about his past during the event.

He was asked how he felt being celebrated by politicians and business leaders when a decade prior he was in what was described as political purgatory following the Schreiber affair.

“Oh for God’s sake!” he said to The Canadian Press, and left to join his esteemed guests.

Giuseppe Valiante, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Mulroney feted by business and political elite, refuses to speak about his past

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