Editing Brian Mulroney (section)

=== Conservative Party of Canada ===
Mulroney played an influential role by supporting the merger of the [[Canadian Alliance]] (successor of the Reform Party) with the Progressive Conservatives to form the [[Conservative Party of Canada]]; Mulroney joined the new party upon its formation in 2003.<ref name=merger>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/12/18/opinion/right-wing-merger-was-tragedy-stephen-harper?page=1|title=This right-wing merger was a tragedy|date=December 18, 2023 |publisher=National Observer|accessdate=March 1, 2024}}</ref> This distinguished him from other prominent PC politicians, such as former prime ministers Joe Clark and Kim Campbell, who became [[independent politician|independents]] as they believed that the Conservative Party was too right-wing and drifting toward social conservatism.<ref name=merger/>

According to press reports, Mulroney's membership lapsed in 2006. In early 2009, Mulroney "called a high-ranking person in the party and asked that his name be removed from all party lists" due to his anger at the continued inquiry into his financial affairs,<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090331.wparty01sb/BNStory/politics/home Mulroney not a Tory any more?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404042431/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090331.wparty01sb/BNStory/politics/home |date=April 4, 2009 }}, Campbell Clark, ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 1, 2009,</ref> although he denies this claim.<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090408.wPOLharper0408/BNStory/politics/home Ignatieff has 'no moral compass,' PM says] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411033829/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090408.wPOLharper0408/BNStory/politics/home |date=April 11, 2009 }}, Brian Laghi, ''The Globe and Mail'', April 8, 2009,</ref> A Mulroney confidant, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the party's claims preposterous. "He's part of the history of this party; you can't rewrite history. If they're worried about branding, then shut the inquiry down. They're the ones who called the inquiry."<ref>[https://archive.today/20120730203253/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090331/mulroney_tories_090331/20090331?hub=QPeriod Tories, Mulroney in tiff over party membership]. March 31, 2009, CTV.ca</ref>

Months before the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]], Mulroney endorsed Prime Minister Stephen Harper while campaigning for [[Eric Girard (Groulx MNA)|Eric Girard]], a family friend and the Conservative candidate for [[Lac-Saint-Louis|Lac St. Louis]].<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Brian Mulroney shelves criticism of PM Harper in rare stump speech |url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/brian-mulroney-shelves-criticism-of-pm-harper-in-rare-stump-speech-1.2417516 |website=CTV News |access-date=December 2, 2021 |date=June 11, 2015 |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202041600/https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/brian-mulroney-shelves-criticism-of-pm-harper-in-rare-stump-speech-1.2417516 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mulroney campaigned for Conservative Leader [[Erin O'Toole]] in the run-up of the [[2021 Canadian election]].<ref>[https://www.cp24.com/news/mulroney-campaigns-for-o-toole-in-quebec-comparing-now-to-time-before-1984-win-1.5586556 Mulroney campaigns for O'Toole in Quebec, comparing now to time before 1984 win] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920213012/https://www.cp24.com/news/mulroney-campaigns-for-o-toole-in-quebec-comparing-now-to-time-before-1984-win-1.5586556 |date=September 20, 2021 }} September 15, 2021, cp24.com</ref> Just a month and a bit later, Mulroney criticized him on the matter of [[COVID-19 vaccination in Canada|COVID-19 vaccinations]], stating that he should show "leadership" and expel unvaccinated MPs from the Conservative caucus.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aiello |first1=Rachel |title=O'Toole should show 'leadership' and show unvaccinated Conservative MPs the door: Former PM Mulroney |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/o-toole-should-show-leadership-and-show-unvaccinated-conservative-mps-the-door-former-pm-mulroney-1.5644326 |website=CTV News |access-date=November 7, 2021 |date=October 31, 2021 |archive-date=November 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107055342/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/o-toole-should-show-leadership-and-show-unvaccinated-conservative-mps-the-door-former-pm-mulroney-1.5644326 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

On June 2022, Mulroney said to an audience at Laval University that he could not see himself within the modern Conservative Party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Racine |first=Jean-François |date=2022-06-14 |title=Mulroney ne se reconnaît plus dans le PCC actuel |url=https://www.journaldequebec.com/2022/06/14/universite-laval-un-hommage-a-brian-mulroney |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Le Journal de Québec}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2025-04-04 |title=Opinion: Pierre Poilievre spurned Brian Mulroney's advice, and is paying the price |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-pierre-poilievre-spurned-brian-mulroneys-advice-and-is-paying-the/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref> In October 2022, Mulroney said he supported the Conservatives' new leader, [[Pierre Poilievre]], who reached to Mulroney after his leadership victory.<ref name=":3" /> Mulroney said that he urged Poilievre to move closer to the [[political centre]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Van Dyk |first1=Spencer |title=Mulroney backing Conservatives' Poilievre, but cautions he won't win going 'extreme right' |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mulroney-backing-conservatives-poilievre-but-cautions-he-won-t-win-going-extreme-right-1.6102069 |website=CTV News |access-date=October 9, 2022 |date=October 9, 2022 |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009163138/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mulroney-backing-conservatives-poilievre-but-cautions-he-won-t-win-going-extreme-right-1.6102069 |url-status=live }}</ref>