Editing Brian Mulroney (section)

== Prime Minister (1984–1993) ==

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Milabrianmulroney.jpg|thumb|Mila (left) and Brian (right) Mulroney greet Pierre Trudeau (foreground)]] -->
The first Conservative majority victory in 26 years—and only the second in 54 years—initially seemed to give Mulroney a very formidable position. The Tories had won just over half the popular vote, and no other party crossed the 50-seat mark. He had wide discretion to take Canada in virtually any direction he wanted. His position was far more precarious than his parliamentary majority would suggest. Mulroney's support was based on a grand coalition of [[social conservatism in Canada|socially conservative]] [[populists]] from the West, [[Quebec nationalists]], and fiscal conservatives from Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Such diverse interests became difficult for him to juggle.<ref>David Bercuson et al. ''Sacred Trust? Brian Mulroney and the Conservative Party in Power'' (1987)</ref>

Most of Mulroney's ministers had little government experience, resulting in conflicts of interest and embarrassing scandals. Many Tories expected patronage appointments due to the long time out of government.<ref>Newman, p. 91, quoting "Mulroney's friend Arthur Campeau."</ref> Mulroney included a large number of Westerners in his Cabinet (including Clark as [[Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada|minister of external affairs]]). He was not completely successful, even aside from economic and constitutional policy. For example, he moved [[CF-18]] servicing from Manitoba to Quebec in 1986, even though the Manitoba bid was lower and the company was better rated.<ref>Newman, p. 116.</ref> Mulroney also received death threats for exerting pressure on Manitoba over French language rights.<ref name="Newman427">Newman, p. 427.</ref>

[[File:Mulroney DF-SC-85-12406.jpg|thumb|Mila (left) and Brian (right) Mulroney at [[Andrews Air Force Base]] in September 1984]]

=== Economic policy ===

==== Social programs and spending ====

Despite Mulroney referring to social programs as a "sacred trust" when he was Opposition leader in 1983,<ref name="Making medicare – Brian Mulroney">{{cite web|last1=|first1=|title=Making medicare – Brian Mulroney|url=https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/medicare/medic-7k05e.html|website=Canadian Museum of History|access-date=April 23, 2022|archive-date=June 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605082808/https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/medicare/medic-7k05e.html|url-status=live}}</ref> he began to reduce expenditures on the programs when he came into office. In terms of [[old age security]], Mulroney's government gradually reduced its benefits at middle-income levels and above. Mulroney's government cut spending for [[unemployment insurance]] (UI) and reduced the range of workers covered by the benefits from the program. In their [[1985 Canadian federal budget|first budget in 1985]], the Mulroney government announced that [[Registered home ownership savings plan]] (RHOSP) contributions would not be deductible if made after May 22, 1985, (funds left in the RHOSP after this date could be withdrawn tax-free, "regardless of the use"{{efn|Withdrawals made prior to May 22, 1985, must meet usage requirements to be received tax-free.}}<ref>[https://www.budget.gc.ca/pdfarch/1985-pap-eng.pdf Budget Papers 1985] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126210836/https://www.budget.gc.ca/pdfarch/1985-pap-eng.pdf |date=January 26, 2022 }}, May 22, 1985. pp. 76–77.</ref>{{sfn|S.C. 1986, ch. 6|loc=s 82}}) and no contribution could be made after December 31, 1985;{{efn|They would otherwise be reincluded in the taxpayer's income if made between May 22, 1985, and December 31, 1985.}}{{sfn|S.C. 1986, ch. 6|loc=s 82(10)}} the government also announced that income earned in an RHOSP after December 31, 1985, was to be included in the owner's taxable income, effectively ending the last desirable feature of RHOSPs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fellows |first1=Patrick |title=Savings bonds are always cashable |work=Toronto Star |date=July 8, 1986 |page=E4 |language=en}}</ref> In 1990, the government limited cost-sharing under the [[Canada Assistance Plan]] in three provinces in response to their concerns that unemployed workers would apply for cost-shared provincial social assistance (as a result of rising unemployment).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moscovitch |first1=Allan |title=Welfare State |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/welfare-state |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=April 22, 2022 |date=February 7, 2006 |archive-date=November 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117125820/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/welfare-state |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 1990, Mulroney's government eliminated its financial contribution to UI, making all UI costs covered by worker and employer contributions.<ref name="CanadianLabourUI">{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Passage of the unemployment insurance act |url=https://canadianlabour.ca/passage-of-the-unemployment-insurance-act/#:~:text=1971%20%E2%80%93%20Prime%20Minister%20Pierre%20Trudeau,of%2020%20hours%20per%20week. |website=Canadian Labour Congress |date=August 5, 2018 |access-date=April 22, 2023 |archive-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423181650/https://canadianlabour.ca/passage-of-the-unemployment-insurance-act/#:~:text=1971%20%E2%80%93%20Prime%20Minister%20Pierre%20Trudeau,of%2020%20hours%20per%20week. |url-status=live }}</ref> In Spring 1993, the government lowered benefits for unemployed Canadians and eliminated benefits for the unemployed who failed to prove the reason they left their job.

In 1985, Mulroney's government introduced a four-year plan to restructure family benefits. Starting in 1986, [[family allowance]]s were partially [[Index (economics)|indexed]] to the [[cost of living]]. For three years, from 1986 to 1988, the refundable [[child tax credit]]s were increased to $549 per year. Starting in 1989, the tax credits were partially indexed in the same manner as family allowances. That same year, as part of the government's program to target social benefits to low or middle-income Canadians, universal family allowances ended as high-income parents were required to repay all of their benefits at tax-filing time. This system maintained and increased a tax deduction for childcare expenses, benefiting high-income families the most. In 1992, the government replaced family allowances with a new Child Tax Benefit that included the family allowance, the Refundable Child Tax Credit, and a non-refundable child tax credit. The new benefit paid a maximum of $85 per month per child up to the age of 18 and was tax-free. It was income-tested on the net family income reported in the preceding year's income tax returns.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guest |first1=Dennis |title=Family Allowance |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/family-allowance |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=April 23, 2022 |date=February 7, 2006 |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423185042/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/family-allowance |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mulroney's government reduced the federal workforce by 1 percent each year from 1986 to 1991, resulting in the laying off of 11,000 federal employees. Mulroney's government transferred a significantly increased share of the costs of [[universal health care]] and [[Higher education in Canada|higher education]] to the provinces, departing from the previous standard of [[Established Programs Financing|cost-sharing of the two levels of government]]. As a result, some provinces had to drop insurance coverage for certain medical procedures and drugs. Mulroney's government eliminated subsidies to government-owned passenger rail and postal services, resulting in the closing of post offices in some small towns and the elimination of certain train routes. The government also introduced fees for forwarding misdirected letters. Under Mulroney, military spending growth was reduced to 1.5 percent per year and foreign aid growth was reduced to 3 percent per year.<ref name="LATimes" /> Mulroney also put spending limits on [[Medicare (Canada)|medicare]].<ref name="Making medicare – Brian Mulroney"/>

==== Deficit ====

One of Mulroney's priorities was to lower the [[Government budget deficit|deficit]], which under Pierre Trudeau had increased from $667 million in the [[1968 Canadian federal budget|1968 budget]] to $37.2 billion in the [[1984 Canadian federal budget|1984 budget]]. By [[1988 Canadian federal budget|1988]], Mulroney's government cut the deficit to $28 billion, though it would never decrease beyond that point and the deficit would instead increase. The Progressive Conservatives' [[1993 Canadian federal budget|final budget in 1993]] produced a deficit of $38.5 billion, about the same level that it was when Trudeau left office. As a percent of GDP, the deficit was reduced from 8.3 percent to 5.6 percent during Mulroney's tenure.<ref name=":CBCgraph">{{cite web|title=Canada's deficits and surpluses, 1963–2014|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/canada-deficit/|website=CBC News|publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada|access-date=May 27, 2023|archive-date=January 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122103957/http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/canada-deficit/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Burton |first1=Michael |title=The Politics of Austerity: A Recent History |page=160}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of budgets passed by the Mulroney government
<br />'''''$ represent [[Canadian dollar|Canadian]] billions of [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|unadjusted]] dollars'''''
|-
! Budget !! [[1985 Canadian federal budget|1985]] !! [[1986 Canadian federal budget|1986]] !! [[1987 Canadian federal budget|1987]] !! [[1988 Canadian federal budget|1988]] !! [[1989 Canadian federal budget|1989]] !! [[1990 Canadian federal budget|1990]] !! [[1991 Canadian federal budget|1991]] !!  [[1992 Canadian federal budget|1992]] !! [[1993 Canadian federal budget|1993]]
|-
| '''Deficit''' || $33.389 || $29.842 || $29.017 || $27.947 || $29.143 || $33.899 || $32.319 || $39.019 || $38.5
|}

The [[Early 1990s recession|worldwide recession of the early 1990s]] significantly damaged the government's financial situation. Mulroney's inability to improve the government's finances, as well as his use of tax increases to deal with it, were major factors in alienating the Western conservative portion of his power base – this contrasted with his tax cuts earlier as part of his 'pro-business' plan which had increased the deficit. At the same time, the [[Bank of Canada]] began to raise interest rates in order to meet a [[zero inflation]] target; the experiment was regarded as a failure that exacerbated the effect of the recession in Canada. Annual budget deficits ballooned to record levels, reaching $42 billion in his last year of office. These deficits grew the national debt dangerously close to the psychological benchmark of 100 percent of GDP, further weakening the [[Canadian dollar]] and damaging Canada's international credit rating.<ref name="Blake 2007">Blake, ed., ''Transforming the Nation: Canada and Brian Mulroney'' (2007)</ref>

==== Taxation ====

Mulroney's government de-indexed [[Income tax in Canada#Personal income taxes|personal income tax]] [[Tax brackets|brackets]] and eliminated open corporate tax loopholes. The government also increased taxes on alcohol, tobacco and gasoline.<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Mary |title=America From Abroad : Canadian Budget Plan Cuts to the Quick : Mulroney's nine years of taxes and trims have stemmed the red ink but drawn political blood. Watch out, Bill Clinton! |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-23-wr-519-story.html |access-date=May 1, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 23, 1993 |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502005747/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-23-wr-519-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1988, Mulroney's government reduced the corporate income tax from 36 percent to 28 percent.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Canada's failed experiment with corporate income tax cuts |url=https://monitormag.ca/articles/canadas-failed-experiment-with-corporate-income-tax-cuts |website=Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives |access-date=May 1, 2022 |date=September 9, 2015 |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611112506/https://monitormag.ca/articles/canadas-failed-experiment-with-corporate-income-tax-cuts |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, his government increased the [[capital gains tax]] inclusion rate from 50 percent to 66.67 percent before increasing it to 75 percent in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=A primer on capital gains taxes in Canada |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/a-primer-on-capital-gains-taxes-in-canada-1.231145 |website=CBC News |access-date=May 8, 2023 |date=October 18, 2000 |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508063633/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/a-primer-on-capital-gains-taxes-in-canada-1.231145 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mulroney's government passed a major tax reform bill, Bill C-139, which was made effective on January 1, 1988. It included reforms for personal and corporate income taxes. The bill expanded the tax base for personal and corporate income; lowered rates applicable to taxable income; supplanted exemptions with credits; and removed certain deductions for personal income tax. The bill replaced the 1987 rate schedule of 10 brackets (with rates ranging from 6 to 34 percent) with a schedule of only three brackets (with rates of 17 percent, 26 percent, and 29 percent). The bill also limited the lifetime capital gains exemption to $100,000; lowered capital cost allowances; established limitations on deductible business expenses; and cut the dividend tax credit.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=George |title=Taxation in Canada |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/taxation |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=July 7, 2022 |date=January 28, 2007 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707210253/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/taxation |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 1989, Mulroney's government announced the introduction of a nine percent national sales tax, the [[Goods and services tax (Canada)|goods and services tax]] (GST), to replace the hidden 13.5 percent manufacturers' sales tax (MST). The government argued that the MST damaged the Canadian economy's competitiveness as it only applied to domestically manufactured goods, as opposed to the new GST, which applied to domestic and imported goods. The GST did not apply to basic groceries, prescription drugs, health and dental care, educational services, daycare, and legal aid. Following public backlash, Mulroney's government changed the tax rate to seven percent. Although the government argued the tax was not a tax increase, but a tax shift, the highly visible nature of the tax was extremely unpopular, and many polls showed that as many as 80 percent of Canadians were opposed to the tax. Two Progressive Conservative MPs from Alberta, [[David Kilgour]] and [[Alex Kindy]], left the party in protest of the tax.<ref name="LA Times Canada's 9% Sales Tax">{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=September 19, 1989 |title=Canada's 9% Sales Tax Proposal Stirs Discontent |language=en-US |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-19-fi-332-story.html |access-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015175855/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-19-fi-332-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Brian Mulroney looks back at GST with no regrets |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/brian-mulroney-looks-back-at-gst-with-no-regrets-1.590073 |website=CTV News |access-date=July 4, 2022 |date=December 28, 2010 |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706014215/https://www.ctvnews.ca/brian-mulroney-looks-back-at-gst-with-no-regrets-1.590073 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Raymond B. Blake 2007" /> The [[Senate of Canada|Senate]] with a Liberal majority refused to pass the GST. Mulroney used Section 26 (the Deadlock Clause), a little-known Constitutional provision, allowing him in an emergency situation to ask the Queen to appoint eight new senators. On September 27, 1990, at the Queen's approval, Mulroney added the eight new senators, thus giving the Tories their first majority in the Senate in nearly 50 years. In December 1990, the GST was passed in the Senate and was made effective on January 1, 1991. Mulroney's use of an "emergency" clause in the constitution was controversial and contributed to his decline in popularity.<ref name="Raymond B. Blake 2007" /><ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=When Brian Mulroney upsized the Senate to pass the GST |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/when-brian-mulroney-upsized-the-senate-to-pass-the-gst-1.4839649 |website=CBC |access-date=July 4, 2022 |date=September 27, 2018 |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706014218/https://www.cbc.ca/archives/when-brian-mulroney-upsized-the-senate-to-pass-the-gst-1.4839649 |url-status=live }}</ref>

One of the causes of the early 1990s recession was several tax increases instituted by Mulroney's government between 1989 and 1991. The introduction of the goods and services tax and increases related to excise and payroll taxes were modelled to have reduced real GDP growth by 1.6, 2.4 and 5.1 percentage points in 1990, 1991 and 1992, respectively. Had these tax increases not been implemented, the national debt would have increased significantly.<ref name="Wilson, Dugan and Murphy">Wilson, Thomas, Dungan, Peter, and Murphy, Steve {{citation|title=The Sources of the Recession in Canada: 1989–1992 |url=http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/aec7/921e41844189816ed79117f4d812e6195184.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302032502/http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/aec7/921e41844189816ed79117f4d812e6195184.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |work=University of Toronto |s2cid=17318693 }}</ref>

==== Privatizations ====

Mulroney's government privatized many of Canada's [[Crown corporations of Canada|crown corporations]]. In 1984, the [[Government of Canada]] held 61 crown corporations. Under Mulroney, it sold off 23 of them,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2004/RAND_MG169.pdf|title=Lessons from the North: Canada's Privatization of Military Ammunition Production|access-date=June 7, 2010|archive-date=June 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624111426/http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2004/RAND_MG169.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> including [[Air Canada]], which was completely privatized by 1989,<ref>{{cite news | title=Indepth: Air Canada Timeline | date=June 20, 2005 | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aircanada/timeline.html | publisher=[[CBC News]] | access-date=July 29, 2022 | url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421035635/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aircanada/timeline.html |archive-date=April 21, 2006}}</ref> although the ''Air Canada Public Participation Act'' continued to make certain requirements of the airline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-10.1/FullText.html |title=Air Canada Public Participation Act |publisher=Laws.justice.gc.ca |date=May 31, 2010 |access-date=April 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507092239/https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-10.1/FullText.html |archive-date=May 7, 2013 }}</ref> Mulroney's government also privatized [[Connaught Laboratories]] in 1984 through two public issues (one in 1984 and one in 1987)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=William |title=Connaught Labs — the greatest mistake ever made by a Canadian government |url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/local-niagara-falls/opinion/columnists/2021/02/22/connaught-labs-the-greatest-mistake-ever-made-by-a-canadian-government.html |website=St. Catherine's Standard |access-date=July 29, 2022 |date=February 22, 2021 |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729221320/https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/local-niagara-falls/opinion/columnists/2021/02/22/connaught-labs-the-greatest-mistake-ever-made-by-a-canadian-government.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=History fuels nationalism-global trade debate|last=Enchin|first=Harvey|date=September 30, 1989|work=The Globe and Mail|page=B1|issn=0319-0714}}</ref> and [[Petro-Canada]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yusufali |first1=Sasha |last2=Pratt |first2=Larry |title=Petro-Canada |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/petro-canada |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=July 29, 2022 |date=November 16, 2009 |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729221537/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/petro-canada |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Energy policy ====

On June 1, 1985, Mulroney's government negotiated the [[Western Canada|Western]] Accord on Energy with the governments of the [[Petroleum industry in Canada|oil-producing]] provinces. It permitted the full deregulation of oil prices and allowed the market forces of international and local supply and demand to determine prices. This accord abolished the [[National Energy Program]], which was a policy of Trudeau's Liberal government that was highly unpopular in the Western provinces.<ref name=OilFreedomDay>{{cite news |url=https://www.albertaoilmagazine.com/2009/06/oil-freedom-day/ |title=June 1, 1985, marks the day the Western Accord on Energy – and an open market – took over |author=Staff writers |work=Alberta Oil Magazine |date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623121257/https://www.albertaoilmagazine.com/2009/06/oil-freedom-day/ |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Budget_1985">{{citation |url=https://www.budget.gc.ca/pdfarch/1985-pap-eng.pdf |title=Budget 1985 |date=May 23, 1985 |access-date=October 22, 2019 |first=Michael H. |last=Wilson |publisher=Department of Finance Canada |location=Ottawa, ON |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126210836/https://www.budget.gc.ca/pdfarch/1985-pap-eng.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|12–15}}

=== Environmental policy ===

The environment was a key focus of Mulroney's government. His government added eight new national parks (including [[Bruce Peninsula National Park|Bruce Peninsula]] and [[South Moresby]]), and passed the ''[[Canadian Environmental Assessment Act]]'' and ''[[Canadian Environmental Protection Act]]''.<ref name="Raymond B. Blake 2007">Raymond B. Blake, ed., ''Transforming the Nation: Canada and Brian Mulroney'' (2007)</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hillmer |first1=Norman |title=Brian Mulroney |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brian-mulroney |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=May 27, 2022 |date=April 22, 2013 |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527050606/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brian-mulroney |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1987, Mulroney hosted an international climate conference in [[Montreal]], Quebec. There, 46 nations signed the [[Montreal Protocol]] to limit the use and production of [[chlorofluorocarbons]] (CFCs); this agreement came after the discovery that CFCs were burning a hole through the [[ozone layer]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Montpetit |first1=Jonathan |title=That time conservatives saved the planet from climate change |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/conservatives-ozone-montreal-protocol-1.4409482 |website=CBC News |access-date=May 25, 2022 |date=November 19, 2017 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525234734/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/conservatives-ozone-montreal-protocol-1.4409482 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mulroney secured the [[U.S.–Canada Air Quality Agreement]], an [[environmental treaty]] on [[acid rain]], with United States President [[George H. W. Bush]] in 1991. Both nations committed to reducing the emissions of the air pollutants (sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide) that caused acid rain through a [[cap-and-trade]] system.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parry |first1=Tom |title=Years ago, Canada and the U.S. came together to end the acid rain threat. What changed? |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/acid-rain-bush-climate-change-mulroney-1.4934402 |website=CBC News |access-date=May 25, 2022 |date=December 6, 2018 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525042755/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/acid-rain-bush-climate-change-mulroney-1.4934402 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Josh |title=How George H.W. Bush and Brian Mulroney teamed up to curb acid rain |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4731021/george-bush-brian-mulroney-acid-rain/ |website=Global News |access-date=May 25, 2022 |date=December 5, 2018 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525042754/https://globalnews.ca/news/4731021/george-bush-brian-mulroney-acid-rain/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Negotiations began in 1986 when Mulroney first discussed the issue with then-president [[Ronald Reagan]]. Mulroney repeatedly pressed the issue in public meetings with Reagan in 1987<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1315355.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106001539/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1315355.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2012|title=Mulroney Presses Reagan;Canadian Wants Acid Rain Treaty|date=April 6, 1987|access-date=May 25, 2022}}</ref> and 1988.<ref>{{cite news |author=Philip Shabecoff, Special to the New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/29/world/canada-sees-acid-rain-talks.html |title=Canada Sees Acid-Rain Talks |location=Canada; United States |newspaper=NYTimes.com |date=April 29, 1988 |access-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525042756/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/29/world/canada-sees-acid-rain-talks.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Under Mulroney, Canada became the first industrialized country to ratify the 1992 [[Convention on Biological Diversity]] at the [[Earth Summit]] in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Conference experts claimed that Canada's signing of the treaty motivated the United Kingdom and Germany to pledge their support and thus avoid the convention's defeat. The conference also introduced the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]], which sought to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to an environmentally friendly level; Canada was the first [[Group of Seven]] (G7) nation to sign the treaty. At the convention, Mulroney pledged $260 million from Canada toward advancing sustainable development for developing nations; this included an offer to forgive $145 million in debts owed to Canada by Latin American nations on the condition that the sum of money be used for sustainable development and social programs. At the end of the conference, Mulroney stated, "I leave this conference believing we have a better chance of saving the world than we had when we came here."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nichols |first1=Mark |title=Progress in Rio |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/22/progress-in-rio |website=Maclean's |access-date=May 27, 2022 |date=June 22, 1992 |archive-date=June 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612150931/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/22/progress-in-rio |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hrvatin |first1=Vanessa |title=A brief history of Canada's climate change agreements |url=https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/a-brief-history-of-canadas-climate-change-agreements/ |website=Canadian Geographic |access-date=May 27, 2022 |date=May 30, 2016 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516183849/https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/a-brief-history-of-canadas-climate-change-agreements/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 1992, Newfoundland and Labrador cod of breeding age dropped to one percent of its estimated peak. Concerned about the [[overfishing]] of cod stocks off the coast of the province, Mulroney's government, in the summer of that year imposed a [[Moratorium (law)|moratorium]] on cod fishing; they initially set the ban for a minimum of two years, but later expanded it indefinitely.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Crosbie calls cod moratorium his hardest political moment |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/crosbie-calls-cod-moratorium-his-hardest-political-moment-1.1214175 |website=CBC News |access-date=February 5, 2022 |date=June 27, 2012 |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205083742/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/crosbie-calls-cod-moratorium-his-hardest-political-moment-1.1214175 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title="I didn't take the fish from the God damn water" |url=https://parli.ca/i-didnt-take-the-fish-out-of-the-god-damn-water/ |website=Parli.ca |date=March 4, 2021 |access-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205083747/https://parli.ca/i-didnt-take-the-fish-out-of-the-god-damn-water/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CodEncyclopedia">{{cite web |last1=Berry |first1=David |title=Cod Moratorium of 1992 |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cod-moratorium-of-1992 |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=May 27, 2022 |date=August 6, 2020 |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527053912/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cod-moratorium-of-1992 |url-status=live }}</ref> This resulted in the layoff of 30,000–40,000 workers. Mulroney's government introduced the Northern Cod Adjustment and Recovery Program (NCARP) that provided [[unemployment insurance]] payments and retraining to workers; most of the workers viewed this as insufficient. In the first decade of the ban, Newfoundland and Labrador's population fell by 10 percent as people left to search for work.<ref name="CodEncyclopedia" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dixit |first1=Prajwala |title=What does 2020's pandemic have in common with the 1992 cod moratorium? More than you think |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/pandemic-cod-moratorium-1992-1.5710693 |website=CBC News |access-date=May 27, 2022 |date=September 6, 2020 |quote=She added that the moratorium also resulted in the largest mass industrial layoff in Canadian history. As a proportion of the provincial population, she said, 30,000 to 40,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians... |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527053913/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/pandemic-cod-moratorium-1992-1.5710693 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Social policy ===

On September 22, 1988, Mulroney issued an official apology on behalf of the Canadian government for [[Japanese Canadian internment]] during World War II. Mulroney's government provided a 300 million dollar compensation package, which included $21,000 to each of the remaining 13,000 survivors, $12 million for a Japanese community fund, and $24 million to create a Canadian race relations foundation.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Government apologizes to Japanese Canadians in 1988 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/government-apologizes-to-japanese-canadians-in-1988-1.4680546 |website=CBC |access-date=June 30, 2022 |date=September 22, 1988 |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527213926/https://www.cbc.ca/archives/government-apologizes-to-japanese-canadians-in-1988-1.4680546 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mulroney argues he set up the [[Deschênes Commission]] of inquiry on Nazi war criminals soon after he was first elected in 1984, even though it was controversial among "communities where Nazi criminals posed as respectable citizens."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cjnews.com/news/criticism-israel-not-necessarily-antisemitic-mulroney|title=Criticism of Israel is not necessarily antisemitic: Mulroney|last1=Arnold|first1=Janice|last2=Reporter|first2=Staff|date=May 13, 2013|website=The Canadian Jewish News|access-date=November 12, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112200408/https://www.cjnews.com/news/criticism-israel-not-necessarily-antisemitic-mulroney|url-status=live}}</ref>

On issues of [[Abortion in Canada|abortion]], Mulroney declared he was opposed to "abortion on demand" but gave no details on what that meant legally.<ref>"Silence broken: PM is opposed to abortion on demand." Heather Bird. ''Toronto Star.'' August 3, 1988. p. A.1</ref> In the Spring of 1988, the Mulroney government offered a compromise solution that would give easy access to abortion in the early stages of pregnancy and criminalize late-term ones. The law in the House of Commons was defeated 147 to 76 in a [[free vote]], voted against by both MPs who opposed easy access to abortions and those who opposed adding any abortion rules to the Criminal Code. Some pro-life social conservatives who played a role in Mulroney's 1984 landslide were disappointed by this move, as they were in favour of outlawing abortion completely, regardless of the circumstance. In 1989, the government introduced a much stricter bill. If enacted, it would ban all abortions unless a doctor ruled the woman's life or health would be threatened. Anyone found in violation of the law could be imprisoned for up to two years.<ref>"Turner admits abortion bill may be 'best we can get'" Iain Hunter. ''The Ottawa Citizen.'' November 9, 1989. p. A.1.FRO</ref> In another free vote, the House of Commons passed the new bill by nine votes.<ref>"Abortion law passes by nine votes amid protests." Peggy Curran. ''The Gazette.'' May 30, 1990. p. A.1.FRO</ref> A few months later, the bill failed in the Senate on a tie vote. Under the rules of the Senate, a tie meant the measure was defeated.<ref>"Bill's loss may be blessing for Tories." Joan Ramsay. ''The Ottawa Citizen.'' February 2, 1991. p. A.7</ref> This was the last time the federal government attempted to enact abortion laws. Today, abortion in Canada remains completely legal at all stages of pregnancy, regardless of the reason.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Abortion in Canada |url=https://nafcanada.org/history-abortion-canada/ |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=National Abortion Federation Canada |language=en-US |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119120701/https://nafcanada.org/history-abortion-canada/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1991, ''[[Frank (magazine)|Frank]]'' magazine ran a satirical advertisement for a contest inviting young Tories to "Deflower [[Caroline Mulroney]]." Her father was incensed and threatened physical harm toward those responsible before joining several women's groups in denouncing the ad as an incitement to rape on national television. Frank's editor [[Michael Bate]], called the spoof, intended to mock her unpopular father for bringing her to public adult-oriented events, "clumsy" but had no regrets. Bate also shared sympathy toward her father's reaction over the spoof.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1993/07/05/to-be-perfectly-frank/7621f45a-de22-4384-abad-d072b4b511b5/|title=To Be Perfectly Frank  ...|last=Trueheart|first=Charles|date=July 5, 1993|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 2, 2018|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=February 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224052814/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1993/07/05/to-be-perfectly-frank/7621f45a-de22-4384-abad-d072b4b511b5/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Attempted constitutional reform ===

==== Meech Lake Accord ====
{{Main|Meech Lake Accord}}
A major undertaking by Mulroney's government was an attempt to resolve the divisive issue of national unity. In 1981, Quebec Premier [[René Lévesque]], leader of the Quebec nationalist [[Parti Québécois]] government, had been the only provincial premier not to agree to the package of constitutional amendments which [[patriated]] the [[Constitution of Canada]].<ref>Peter Hogg and Wade K. Wright, ''Constitutional Law of Canada'' (5th ed., supplemented;  loose-leaf current to 2022), §4:1 : Imperial Amendments.</ref> In the [[1985 Quebec general election|1985 Quebec provincial election]], the Parti Québécois government suffered a landslide defeat to the [[Quebec Liberal Party|Liberals]] led by [[Robert Bourassa]]. Some believed that the new Quebec government's moderate stance on nationalism would allow the province to formally endorse the constitution. Mulroney wanted Quebec to endorse the constitution and wanted to include Quebec in a new agreement with the rest of Canada.<ref name="MeechLakeEncyclopedia">{{cite web |last1=Gall |first1=Gerald |title=Meech Lake Accord |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/meech-lake-accord |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=June 22, 2022 |date=February 7, 2006 |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624201231/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/meech-lake-accord |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 1986, Mulroney met with [[Premier (Canada)|provincial premiers]] in Edmonton, Alberta, where the ministers agreed to the "Edmonton Declaration". It stated that a "Quebec Round" of constitutional talks based on Bourassa's five conditions that would have to be met for Quebec's endorsement of the constitution (recognition of Quebec's distinct character (Quebec being historically Catholic and majority French-speaking); a veto for Quebec in constitutional matters; input from Quebec into the appointment of Supreme Court justices; entrenchment of Quebec's role in immigration; and a limit on the federal spending power{{sfn|MacDonald|p=249}}) would occur before further reforms would be undertaken.{{sfn|MacDonald|pp=251–252}}

Mulroney called a [[First Ministers' conference]] with the ten provincial premiers for April 30, 1987, at Willson House, located on the shores of [[Meech Lake]], Quebec, in the [[Gatineau Hills]].{{sfn|MacDonald|p=253}} During the conference, Mulroney negotiated the [[Meech Lake Accord]], a package of constitutional amendments designed to satisfy Quebec's demand for recognition as a "[[distinct society]]" within Canada. The Accord also devolved some powers to the provinces such as giving provinces a role in nominating people to serve in some federal institutions (e.g. the [[Senate of Canada|Senate]] and [[Supreme Court of Canada]]); allowing provinces to withdraw from federally-financed social programs on the conditions that the province establish its own program that meets national standards; giving constitutional status to federal–provincial immigration agreements; and mandating annual First Ministers' conferences (the Accord also required that [[Senate of Canada#Senate reform|Senate reform]] and [[Fishing industry in Canada|fisheries]] be discussed at the conferences), which made the federal-provincial consultative process constitutional.<ref name="MeechLakeEncyclopedia" /> At a final roll call at 4:45&nbsp;a.m. on June 3, 1987, hours before the signing ceremony, Mulroney knowingly breached convention by taking the vote in reverse order around the table instead of the traditional order of a province's entry into confederation.{{sfn|MacDonald|p=280}} At the symbolic signing ceremony, the premiers signed the Accord.{{sfn|MacDonald|p=281}} The agreement would have changed the [[Amendments to the Constitution of Canada|constitution's amending formula]]. It therefore needed to be ratified by the [[Parliament of Canada|federal parliament]] and the legislatures of all ten provinces.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/section-41.html#h-57 |title=''Constitution Act, 1982'', s. 41. |date=August 7, 2020 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210221832/https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/section-41.html#h-57 |url-status=live }}</ref> As well, other parts of the Accord were made under the general amendment provision.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/section-38.html#h-57 |title=''Constitution Act, 1982'', s 38. |date=August 7, 2020 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210222214/https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/section-38.html#h-57 |url-status=live }}</ref>  That meant that there was a three-year deadline for those amendments to pass.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/section-39.html#h-57 |title=''Constitution Act, 1982'', s. 39. |date=August 7, 2020 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210222512/https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/section-39.html#h-57 |url-status=live }}</ref>  On June 23, 1987, Quebec became the first province to approve of the Accord, triggering the three-year time limit provided for by the Section 39(2) of the ''Constitution Act, 1982''; this meant that June 22, 1990, would be the last possible day the Accord could pass.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cohen |first1=Andrew |title=A Deal Undone: The Making and Breaking of the Meech Lake Accord |date=1990 |publisher=Douglas & McIntyre |location=Vancouver/Toronto |isbn=0-88894-704-6 |page=287}}</ref>

Opinion polls showed that a majority of Canadians supported the Accord. Some believed the Accord would weaken [[Quebec separatism]]. Critics believed the Accord would weaken the federal government's authority, and some from [[English Canada]] argued the "distinct society" clause would give Quebec special status and not make it equal to the other nine provinces. Mulroney told the ''[[Toronto Star]]'', "You can have the old style of warring federalism, or you can have genuine co-operative federalism, on which we're trying to build a new country."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/back-to-tackle-meech-lake|title=Pierre Trudeau comes back to tackle Meech Lake – CBC Archives|website=cbc.ca|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124072237/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/back-to-tackle-meech-lake|archive-date=November 24, 2017}}</ref> As criticism grew, support for the Accord declined outside of Quebec; some there feared its failure would spark a backlash in the province and damage national unity.<ref name="MeechLakeEncyclopedia" />

A commission headed by Mulroney's former cabinet minister, [[Jean Charest]], recommended a companion accord that would address the concerns of other provinces, assert that the distinct society clause would be subject to the ''Charter'', and would feature greater protections for minority language rights in the provinces.{{sfn|MacDonald|p=303}} Mulroney's [[Minister of Environment and Climate Change|environment minister]] and [[Quebec lieutenant]], [[Lucien Bouchard]], viewed the companion accord as a betrayal of Meech and subsequently praised the Parti Québécois in a telegram. Mulroney reportedly demanded Bouchard clarify the remark or resign, and Bouchard supplied a lengthy letter of resignation on May 22, 1990.{{sfn|MacDonald|pp=304–305}} Mulroney claimed he fired Bouchard. Bouchard left the Progressive Conservatives soon afterward. After the failure of the Accord, Bouchard convinced several other Tories and Liberals to join him to form the [[Bloc Québécois]], a pro-sovereigntist party.<ref name="CBCAug2014">{{cite news|title=Lucien Bouchard says 'wounds' remain with Brian Mulroney|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lucien-bouchard-says-wounds-remain-with-brian-mulroney-1.2742836|access-date=March 15, 2018|agency=The Canadian Press|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=August 21, 2014|archive-date=August 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820044421/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lucien-bouchard-says-wounds-remain-with-brian-mulroney-1.2742836|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="G&MNov2015">{{Cite news |last=Galloway |first=Gloria |date=November 15, 2005 |title=Bouchard was fired in 1990, Mulroney insists on tapes |work=The Globe and mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/bouchard-was-fired-in-1990-mulroney-insists-on-tapes/article20429938/ |access-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308175950/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/bouchard-was-fired-in-1990-mulroney-insists-on-tapes/article20429938/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=CTV>{{cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mulroney-i-ll-never-forgive-bouchard-s-betrayal-1.255259|title=Mulroney: I'll never forgive Bouchard's betrayal|publisher=[[CTV News]]|date=September 6, 2007|access-date=May 1, 2020|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727043245/https://www.ctvnews.ca/mulroney-i-ll-never-forgive-bouchard-s-betrayal-1.255259|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early June 1990, all premiers finally agreed to ratify the Accord{{efn|In June 1987, all ten premiers agreed to ratify the Accord. Between then and June 1990, three anti-Meech premiers took office; [[Frank McKenna]] became [[premier of New Brunswick]] in October 1987, [[Gary Filmon]] became [[premier of Manitoba]] in 1988, and [[Clyde Kirby Wells|Clyde Wells]] became [[premier of Newfoundland and Labrador]] in 1989. The three premiers refused to support the Accord until their concerns were met in June 1990.}} provided there be further constitutional discussions revolving around an elected Senate, the amending formula, equality, and Indigenous issues. Around that time, New Brunswick agreed to ratify the agreement. Manitoba and, Newfoundland, and Labrador remained the only provinces to have not ratified it; they only had a few weeks left. Unanimous support from every member of the [[Manitoba Legislative Assembly]] was required to bypass the necessary public consultations in the assembly and proceed with ratification. On June 12, 1990, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba [[Elijah Harper]] announced his opposition to the Accord on the grounds that [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous groups]] had not been consulted. Harper's opposition prevented the amendment from proceeding; thus, the Accord failed to pass in the legislature.<ref name="MeechLakeEncyclopedia" /><ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=25 years since Elijah Harper said 'no' to the Meech Lake Accord |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/25-years-since-elijah-harper-said-no-to-the-meech-lake-accord-1.3110439 |website=CBC News |access-date=June 24, 2022 |date=June 11, 2015 |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624201231/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/25-years-since-elijah-harper-said-no-to-the-meech-lake-accord-1.3110439 |url-status=live }}</ref> This allowed the [[premier of Newfoundland and Labrador]], [[Clyde Kirby Wells|Clyde Wells]] (who revoked the province's previous assent though reluctantly agreed to ratify the Accord in June 1990<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Clyde Kirby Wells |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/clyde-kirby-wells |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=June 26, 2022 |date=February 14, 2008 |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626015259/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/clyde-kirby-wells |url-status=live }}</ref>), to excuse himself from bringing the Accord to a vote in the [[Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly]]. The Accord failed to be ratified as Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador did not approve of it by the June 23, 1990, deadline.<ref name="MeechLakeEncyclopedia" />

==== Charlottetown Accord ====
{{Main|Charlottetown Accord}}
Following the Meech Lake failure, Mulroney sought a second attempt to get Quebec's endorsement of the constitution. He appointed his foreign minister, [[Joe Clark]], as the first [[Minister responsible for Constitutional Affairs|minister responsible for constitutional affairs]] on April 21, 1991.<ref>{{cite web|title=Parliamentarian File – Clark, The Rt. Jon Charles Joseph|url=http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=a247d1d3-3b05-46ac-b9f3-6622ab25d695&Language=E&Section=ALL|website=PARLINFO|publisher=Parliament of Canada|accessdate=June 27, 2022|archive-date=April 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405074622/http://lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=a247d1d3-3b05-46ac-b9f3-6622ab25d695&Language=E&Section=ALL|url-status=live}}</ref> Clark was responsible for establishing a new accord to end the constitutional deadlock with Quebec. Mulroney's government appointed two Quebec bodies (the [[Allaire Report|Allaire Committee]] and the [[Commission on the Political and Constitutional Future of Quebec|Belanger-Campeau Committee]]) and two national bodies (the Beaudoin-Edwards Committee and the [[Spicer Commission]]) to engage in discussions regarding constitutional reform. These bodies generated various reports, including the federal document titled ''Shaping Canada's Future Together''. The Mulroney government then held five national conferences to discuss the proposals in the document. The conferences led to another federal report titled ''A Renewed Canada.''. Afterward, negotiations between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments occurred. Unlike the Meech Lake Accord, Indigenous peoples were included in the discussions. Quebec was included in the final stages. The negotiations culminated in the [[Charlottetown Accord]], which was unveiled in [[Charlottetown]], Prince Edward Island, on August 28, 1992.<ref name="CharlottetownEncyclopedia">{{cite web |last1=Gall |first1=Gerald |title=Charlottetown Accord |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-charlottetown-accord |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=June 27, 2022 |date=February 7, 2006 |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714034454/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-charlottetown-accord |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Accord gave provinces jurisdiction over [[Forestry in Canada|forestry]], [[Mining in Canada|mining]], [[Culture of Canada|cultural affairs]],{{efn|The federal government would still have power over national groups such as the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] (CBC) and the [[National Film Board]].}} and other areas; required the federal government to negotiate policy with the provinces in certain areas such as telecommunications, labour and training, regional development, and immigration; abolished [[Disallowance and reservation in Canada|disallowance]] (which gives the federal [[Cabinet of Canada|Cabinet]] power to overrule provincial legislation within one year of it being passed); and required provincial consent for the federal government gaining power over provincial infrastructure projects. The Accord allowed provinces to create their own social programs and mandated the federal government to compensate provinces as long as the provincial social programs met national standards. It also mandated the federal government to compensate provinces that withdrew from any constitutional amendment that transferred provincial powers to the federal government; the compensation would allow provinces to fund their own programs. In addition, the Accord addressed [[Indigenous self-government in Canada|Indigenous self-government]] and contained the "Canada Clause" that determines Canadian values including egalitarianism, [[Multiculturalism in Canada|multiculturalism]], and recognition of Quebec as a distinct society. Finally, the Accord entrenched the structure and appointment process for the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] in the constitution; changed the Senate into a [[Triple-E Senate]] with reduced powers (such as requiring a majority of all senators and a majority of [[Francophone Canadians|Francophone]] senators in certain votes); increased the number of seats in the [[House of Commons]]; guaranteed Quebec at least a quarter of the Commons' seats; and increased the number of matters that require unanimous approval for a constitutional amendment.<ref name="CharlottetownEncyclopedia" />

The Accord was supported by the federal government and all ten provincial governments. Although it could have been ratified as a constitutional amendment, Mulroney's government insisted on holding a national [[referendum]] to avoid a repetition of the criticism that the Meech Lake Accord was agreed upon without public approval. On October 26, 1992, two referendums, one national (without Quebec) and one in Quebec, were held, asking if Canadians agreed with the Charlottetown Accord. Nationally, 54.3 percent opposed the Accord. In Quebec, 56.7 percent opposed it. Many saw the Accord's defeat as a protest against Mulroney's government, which was heavily unpopular due to the failure of the previous Meech Lake Accord, the introduction of the GST, and the early 1990s recession.<ref name="CharlottetownEncyclopedia" />

=== Foreign policy ===

As prime minister, Mulroney strengthened Canada's relations with the United States, moving away from Pierre Trudeau's [[Third Option]] policy of reducing American influence on Canada. Mulroney established a close relationship with U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hillmer |first1=Norman |title=Third Option |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/third-option |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=July 8, 2022 |date=February 7, 2006 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708191714/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/third-option |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 17 and 18, 1985, the "[[Shamrock Summit]]" between Mulroney and Reagan was held in [[Quebec City]]. The summit gained its name from the two leaders' Irish background, and because the meeting started on [[St. Patrick's Day]].<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=History Through Our Eyes: March 17, 1985, the Shamrock Summit |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/history-through-our-eyes/history-through-our-eyes-march-17-1985-the-shamrock-summit |website=Montreal Gazette |access-date=July 8, 2022 |date=March 14, 2022 |archive-date=March 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314141034/https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/history-through-our-eyes/history-through-our-eyes-march-17-1985-the-shamrock-summit |url-status=live }}</ref> In the summit, Mulroney and Reagan sang ''[[When Irish Eyes are Smiling]]''; this signified the camaraderie between the two leaders and a turning point in [[Canada–United States relations]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Ferguson| first=Will| authorlink=Will Ferguson| title=Why I Hate Canadians| year=1997| publisher=Douglas & McIntyre| location=Vancouver, BC, Canada| isbn=1-55054-600-7| pages=[https://archive.org/details/whyihatecanadian00ferg/page/112 112–113]| chapter=11| chapter-url-access=registration| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/whyihatecanadian00ferg/page/112}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Steele | first=Andrew | title=Mr. Angry and Mr. Happy | publisher=[[The Globe and Mail]] | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/andrew-steele/mr-angry-and-mr-happy/article1312681/ | accessdate=July 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Larkin |first1=Janet |title=Reagan, Mulroney Enjoyed a Rare Personal Bond  |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/reagan-mulroney-enjoyed-a-rare-personal-bond/article_3957749b-0616-5390-bdc8-95ce392024cd.html |website=Buffalo News |access-date=July 8, 2022 |date=June 20, 2004 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708191635/https://buffalonews.com/news/reagan-mulroney-enjoyed-a-rare-personal-bond/article_3957749b-0616-5390-bdc8-95ce392024cd.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Air India Flight 182]] bombing, which originated in [[Montreal]], occurred on June 23, 1985. This was the largest terrorist act before the [[September 11 attacks]], with the majority of the 329 victims being Canadian citizens. Mulroney sent a letter of condolence to Indian Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]], sparking an uproar in Canada since he did not call the families of the actual victims to offer condolences. Furthermore, there were several warnings from the [[Indian government]] to the Mulroney government about terrorist threats toward Air India flights. Questions remain as to why these warnings were not taken more seriously and whether the events leading to the bombing could have been prevented.<ref name="story">{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=90d8bfad-8bd6-43d6-9899-ad8f0649db87&k=79609 |title=story |publisher=Canada.com |date=June 19, 2006 |access-date=June 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109115600/https://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=90d8bfad-8bd6-43d6-9899-ad8f0649db87&k=79609 |archive-date=November 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="ctv story">{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060925/airindia_inquiry_060925/20060925?hub=TopStories |title=ctv story |publisher=Ctv.ca |access-date=June 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206080041/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060925/airindia_inquiry_060925/20060925?hub=TopStories |archive-date=December 6, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|agency=The Canadian Press|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mulroney-worried-about-country-s-image-after-air-india-documents-1.570101|title=CBC website November 7, 2007|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=November 7, 2006|access-date=June 7, 2010|archive-date=October 21, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021053236/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/11/07/air-india.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 1984, Mulroney sent his newly appointed [[Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations|Canadian ambassador to the United Nations]], [[Stephen Lewis]], to the [[Headquarters of the United Nations]] in New York City to persuade the [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly]] to take action against [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|the ongoing Ethiopian famine]]. Days later, the UN and [[Red Cross]] launched an effort to save seven million starving Ethiopians and 22 million others in Africa. The Mulroney government's efforts to aid Ethiopia differed Canada from the United States and the United Kingdom, two Western nations which avoided taking action against the famine due to Ethiopia's [[Marxist]] regime. Mulroney's foreign affairs minister, [[Joe Clark]], became the first senior Western official to visit Ethiopia during the famine, ahead of UN officials. Mulroney's government spent tens of millions of dollars to match private donations to combat the famine. Canada contributed to over 10 percent of international aid to Ethiopia. After the famine, Mulroney's government increased aid and development funding to Africa.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Brian |title=When Brian Mulroney was great |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/when-brian-mulroney-was-great-1.859343 |website=CBC News |access-date=June 29, 2022 |date=May 14, 2009 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629220037/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/when-brian-mulroney-was-great-1.859343 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Photograph of The Reagans and Mulroneys in Quebec, Canada - NARA - 198561.jpg|thumb|left|The Mulroneys with the Reagans in [[Quebec City]], Canada, on March 18, 1985, the second day of the "[[Shamrock Summit]]."]]

On December 2, 1991, Canada became the first Western nation to recognize Ukraine as an independent country, next day after the [[1991 Ukrainian independence referendum|landslide referendum in favour of independence in Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goncharova|first=Olena|date=August 24, 2021|title=How Canada became first in West to recognize Ukraine's independence|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/how-canada-became-first-in-west-to-recognize-ukraines-independence.html|access-date=July 7, 2022|website=Kyiv Post|archive-date=August 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824130306/https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/how-canada-became-first-in-west-to-recognize-ukraines-independence.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Apartheid ====

Mulroney's government opposed the [[apartheid]] regime in South Africa. Beginning in 1985, Mulroney led an effort within the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] to [[Economic sanctions|sanction]] the South African government with the goal of pressuring them to end apartheid and release [[Internal resistance to apartheid|anti-apartheid]] activist [[Nelson Mandela]] from prison. This put Mulroney at odds with British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]], who opposed apartheid but believed the sanctions would hurt Britain (which had economic ties with South Africa) and that the measures would hurt South Africans and cause job losses. United States President Ronald Reagan also opposed sanctions, believing that Mandela and other leaders of the [[African National Congress]] were communists.<ref name="NaPoapartheid">{{cite news |title=How Brian Mulroney spearheaded Canadian push to end apartheid in South Africa and free Nelson Mandela |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/world/how-brian-mulroney-spearheaded-canadian-push-to-end-apartheid-in-south-africa-and-free-nelson-mandela |website=National Post |access-date=May 28, 2022 |date=December 5, 2013 |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003184459/https://nationalpost.com/news/world/how-brian-mulroney-spearheaded-canadian-push-to-end-apartheid-in-south-africa-and-free-nelson-mandela |url-status=live }}</ref> At an October 23, 1985, [[United Nations General Assembly]] meeting, Mulroney stated, "if there is no progress in the dismantling of apartheid, [[Canada–South Africa relations|[Canada]'s relations with South Africa]] may have to be severed completely"; he restored this line in his speech after he originally removed it at the advice of External Affairs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Valpy |first1=Michael |title=Brian Mulroney and Stephen Lewis on principled leadership in foreign affairs |url=https://www.utoronto.ca/news/brian-mulroney-and-stephen-lewis-principled-leadership-foreign-affairs |website=University of Toronto |access-date=May 28, 2022 |date=April 15, 2014 |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422193710/https://www.utoronto.ca/news/brian-mulroney-and-stephen-lewis-principled-leadership-foreign-affairs |url-status=live }}</ref> After an August 1986 meeting in London, Canada, along with other Commonwealth nations, implemented 11 new sanctions on South Africa including bans on new air links, new investment, promotion of [[Tourism in South Africa|tourism]],<ref name="NaPoapartheid" /> and imports of South African coal, metals and agricultural goods.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Apartheid and diplomacy |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1987/8/24/apartheid-and-diplomacy |website=Maclean's |access-date=May 28, 2022 |date=August 24, 1987 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528224208/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1987/8/24/apartheid-and-diplomacy |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The day after Mandela was released on February 11, 1990, he spoke with Mulroney through the telephone, thanking him for his efforts to end apartheid. Mandela made the [[Parliament of Canada]] his first legislature in the world to make a speech. On June 18 that year, Mandela spoke in the [[House of Commons of Canada]], where he thanked Mulroney and Canadians. The two remained in contact after they left politics; during his annual business trips to South Africa, Mulroney visited Mandela.<ref name="NaPoapartheid" />

==== Free trade and 1988 re-election ====
Critics noted that Mulroney had originally professed opposition to [[free trade]] during the 1983 leadership campaign<ref name="autogenerated1">Donaldson, p. 334.</ref> though the 1985 report of the [[MacDonald Commission]] suggested free trade as an idea to him.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-commission-on-economic-union-and-development-prospects-for-canada/|title=Royal Commission on Economic Union and Development Prospects for Canada|last=Banting|first=Keith G.|work=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=May 5, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114030330/http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-commission-on-economic-union-and-development-prospects-for-canada/|url-status=live}}</ref> Negotiations between Canada and the United States for a [[free trade treaty]] started in May 1986. In October 1987, a deal was reached;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Bruce |title=Free Trade |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/free-trade |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=June 5, 2022 |date=February 7, 2006 |archive-date=June 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605235306/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/free-trade |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement]] (CUSFTA) stated that all [[tariff]]s between the two countries would be eliminated by 1998. This deal was achieved not least because of Mulroney's close relationship with U.S. President Ronald Reagan.<ref>Stephen Clarkson. ''Canada and the Reagan Challenge: Crisis and Adjustment, 1981–85'' (2nd ed. 1985) ch 5, 8</ref> This agreement was controversial; while Mulroney used his massive majority in the House of Commons to pass the bill, the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]-dominated [[Senate of Canada|Senate]] demanded an election before proceeding to a ratification vote.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Farnsworth |first1=Clyde |title=Canadian Pact Voted By Senate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/20/business/canadian-pact-voted-by-senate.html |website=New York Times |access-date=May 29, 2022 |date=September 20, 1988 |archive-date=March 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311155826/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/20/business/canadian-pact-voted-by-senate.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This induced Mulroney to ask [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Jeanne Sauvé]] on October 1 to dissolve [[33rd Canadian Parliament|Parliament]] and call [[1988 Canadian federal election|an election for November 21]].<ref name="1988CanadianElection">{{cite web |last1=Azzi |first1=Stephen |title=Election of 1988 |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/election-1988-feature |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=May 29, 2022 |date=September 28, 2008 |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524075945/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/election-1988-feature |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:President Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas participate in the... - NARA - 186460.jpg|thumb|NAFTA Initialling Ceremony, October 1992; From left to right: (Standing) Mexican President [[Carlos Salinas|Salinas]], US President [[George H. W. Bush|Bush]], Prime Minister Mulroney, (Seated) [[Jaime Serra Puche]], [[Carla Hills]], [[Michael Wilson (Canadian politician)|Michael Wilson]].]]
The trade deal was the main issue of the election, with the Liberals and [[New Democratic Party]] (NDP) opposing it; Liberal leader [[John Turner]] (who was preparing for his second campaign after Mulroney defeated him in [[1984 Canadian federal election|1984]]) believed that the agreement would "Americanize" Canada and cost many Canadian jobs. A week after the October 25 debate, the Liberals were six points ahead of the PCs. To combat this Liberal surge, the PCs began running a more negative campaign, capitalizing on the perceived lack of public confidence in Turner, his perceived inability to lead the Liberal Party, and arguing that he only opposed free trade because of political opportunism. The Progressive Conservatives poll numbers began to rebound, and they were re-elected with a greatly reduced majority, winning 169 out of 295 seats and 43 percent of the popular vote.<ref name="1988CanadianElection" /> Mulroney became the first and only federal Canadian Conservative party leader since [[John A. Macdonald]] to lead his party to a second majority government.{{efn|[[Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)|Conservative]] Prime Minister [[Robert Borden]] won two majority governments; the second majority he won in [[1917 Canadian federal election|1917]] was when he was the leader of the [[Unionist Party (Canada)|Unionist Party]], a party composed of pro-conscription Conservatives and Liberals.}} The trade deal gained the support of Quebec Premier [[Robert Bourassa]], which helped the PCs maintain their standing in Quebec.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parisella |first1=John |title=Robert Bourassa: vision and resilience |url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/the-best-premier-of-the-last-40-years/robert-bourassa-vision-and-resilience/ |website=Policy options |access-date=July 1, 2022 |date=June 1, 2012 |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004134151/https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/the-best-premier-of-the-last-40-years/robert-bourassa-vision-and-resilience/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In this election, Mulroney transferred to another eastern Quebec seat, [[Charlevoix (federal electoral district)|Charlevoix]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Profile |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=13477 |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=lop.parl.ca |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608102457/https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=13477 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Also on November 21, Mulroney made a controversial [[Order in Council]] which allowed the establishment of the AMEX Bank of Canada (owned by [[American Express]]), despite Finance Minister [[Michael Wilson (Canadian politician)|Michael Wilson]] rejecting AMEX's application to open a Canadian bank in 1986. The Amex Bank of Canada started operating on July 1, 1990. [[Toronto-Dominion Bank]] chairman Richard Thomson accused Mulroney's government of favouritism toward Amex as its Chief Executive Officer, James Robinson, supported free trade.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Newman |first1=Peter |title=The brash new kid on the block |url=http://archive.macleans.ca/article/1990/7/30/the-brash-new-kid-on-the-block |website=Maclean's |access-date=June 9, 2022 |date=July 30, 1990 |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104233155/http://archive.macleans.ca/article/1990/7/30/the-brash-new-kid-on-the-block |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The government implemented the deal; it was made effective on January 1, 1989. In 1994, CUSFTA was replaced by the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA), which now included Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fina-nafi.org/eng/integ/chronologie.asp?langue=eng&menu=integ |title= NAFTA Timeline |publisher= Fina-nafi |access-date= July 4, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110114130328/http://www.fina-nafi.org/eng/integ/chronologie.asp?langue=eng&menu=integ |archive-date= January 14, 2011 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

====Gulf War====
In the early 1990s, Mulroney played a vital part in upholding international law to stop [[Saddam Hussein]]'s aggression in [[Kuwait]].<ref name="dewing00">{{cite news |last1=Dewing |first1=Michael |last2=McDonald |first2=Corinne |title=International Deployment of Canadian Forces: Parliament's Role |url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection-R/LoPBdP/PRB-e/PRB0006-e.pdf |agency=Library of Parliament |issue=PRB 00-06E |publisher=Parliamentary Information and Research Service |date=September 14, 2004 |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-date=September 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919035137/https://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection-R/LoPBdP/PRB-e/PRB0006-e.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="hampson">{{cite news |last1=Hampson |first1=Fen Osler |title=Master of Persuasion: Brian Mulroney's Global Legacy |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/book-excerpt-the-unknown-mulroney-how-the-former-pm-helped-shape-the-mideast |publisher=National Post |date=June 5, 2018 |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003184414/https://nationalpost.com/opinion/book-excerpt-the-unknown-mulroney-how-the-former-pm-helped-shape-the-mideast |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Hampson|2018}} Along with Ambassador [[Yves Fortier (lawyer)|Yves Fortier]],<ref name=hampson/> Mulroney was instrumental in drafting [[UNSCR 678]] which later led to the war when Iraq failed to heed the resolution,{{sfn|Newman|2005|p=10}} and Canada supported the [[Desert Storm|armed UN coalition]] during the 1991 [[Gulf War]] through Operation SCIMITAR and through Operation Friction .<ref name="oscim">{{cite news |title=Gulf War – SCIMITAR |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/past-operations/middle-east/scimitar.html |agency=Government of Canada |publisher=Department of National Defence |date=December 11, 2018 |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816143018/https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/past-operations/middle-east/scimitar.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Government of Canada |publisher=Department of National Defence |title=Gulf War – Friction  |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/past-operations/middle-east/friction.html |date=December 11, 2018 |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816143017/https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/past-operations/middle-east/friction.html |url-status=live }}</ref> When the UN authorized full use of force in the operation, Canada sent a [[CF-18]] squadron with support personnel and a field hospital to deal with casualties from the ground war as well as a company of [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]] to safeguard these ground elements. The [[Canadian Forces]] code-named Canada's participation [[Operation Friction]]. In August, Mulroney sent the destroyers [[HMCS Terra Nova|HMCS ''Terra Nova'']] and [[HMCS Athabaskan (DDG 282)|HMCS ''Athabaskan'']] to enforce the trade blockade against Iraq. The supply ship [[HMCS Protecteur|HMCS ''Protecteur'']] was also sent to aid the gathering coalition forces. When the air war began, Canada's planes were integrated into the coalition force and, provided air cover and attacked ground targets. This was the first time since the fighting on Cyprus in 1974 that Canadian forces participated directly in combat operations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gimblett |first1=Robert |title=Persian Gulf War, 1990–91 |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/persian-gulf-war-1990-91 |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=July 7, 2022 |date=January 11, 2016 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707233628/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/persian-gulf-war-1990-91 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Unpopularity and retirement ===

==== Fracturing of electoral coalition ====

In late 1987, the Western Canada-based [[right-wing populist]] [[Reform Party of Canada]] was founded. The creation of the party was motivated by Western Canadian discontent with Mulroney's government and the Progressive Conservatives in general. The Reform Party opposed the Mulroney government's promotion of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords as well as their introduction of the goods and services tax. Although the party won only 2 percent of the popular vote and no seats in the 1988 election, it won its first seat in the Commons on [[1989 Beaver River federal by-election|the May 6, 1989, by-election]] in the Alberta riding of [[Beaver River (federal electoral district)|Beaver River]], where Reform candidate [[Deborah Grey]] defeated Progressive Conservative candidate [[Dave Broda]] by a nearly 20 percent margin. This was the first sign that Mulroney's coalition was fracturing; the PCs had dominated Alberta's federal politics since the [[1958 Canadian federal election|1958 election]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Trevor |title=Preston Manning |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/preston-manning |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=June 30, 2022 |date=February 13, 2008 |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630214410/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/preston-manning |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Trevor |title=Reform Party of Canada |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/reform-party-of-canada |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=June 30, 2022 |date=February 7, 2006 |archive-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609001251/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/reform-party-of-canada |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 1991, the pro-Quebec sovereigntist [[Bloc Québécois]] was founded by Mulroney's former [[Minister of Environment and Climate Change|environment minister]] and [[Quebec lieutenant]], [[Lucien Bouchard]]. The party's foundation was motivated by the collapse of the [[Meech Lake Accord]], which would have benefited Quebec if it had been ratified. The party attracted a few other PC and Liberal members of parliament.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Marsh |first1=James |title=Lucien Bouchard |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lucien-bouchard |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=June 30, 2022 |date=February 13, 2008 |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630214409/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lucien-bouchard |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Resignation ====

Widespread public resentment of the goods and services tax, the early 1990s recession, the fracturing of his political coalition, and his lack of results regarding the Quebec situation caused Mulroney's popularity to decline severely during his second term. Mulroney entered 1993 facing [[1993 Canadian federal election|a statutory general election]]. By this time, his approval ratings had dipped into the tens, and were at 12 percent in a 1992 [[Gallup poll]], making him the most unpopular prime minister since opinion polling began in Canada in the 1940s.<ref>Russell Ash, ''The Top 10 of Everything 2000'', Montreal: The Reader's Digest Association (Canada) Ltd., 1999, p. 80.</ref>
[[File:Visit of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to Washington, February 5 1993 (42-WHPO-P00639-01) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Mulroney with President [[Bill Clinton]] during a visit to Washington, D.C., shortly before his resignation announcement, February 1993]]
On February 24, 1993, Mulroney announced his intention to resign as prime minister and retire from politics. In his announcement, Mulroney stated, "Whether you agree with our solutions or not, none will accuse us, I think, of having chosen to evade our responsibilities by sidestepping the most controversial issues of our time." Mulroney claimed his resignation was not related to the consensus that he would be heavily defeated by [[Jean Chrétien]]'s Liberals if he led the Tories into the next election and rather argued he could defeat the Liberals if he sought another term.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trueheart |first1=Charles |title=MULRONEY DECLARES INTENTION TO RESIGN |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/02/25/mulroney-declares-intention-to-resign/94ede77d-83d7-4f69-bc54-fea49b346d28/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=June 30, 2022 |date=February 25, 1993}}</ref><ref name="MulroneyLATimes">{{cite web |last1=Walsh |first1=Mary Williams |title=Canadian Leader Mulroney Quits After 8 Years |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-25-mn-747-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=June 30, 2022 |date=February 25, 1993 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701001946/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-25-mn-747-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The last Gallup Poll taken before Mulroney's announcement of resignation showed the PCs' polling numbers had rebounded to 21 percent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca/news.php?id=61 |title=Home &#124; Waterloo News |website=Newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca |date=June 26, 2012 |access-date=February 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527134748/http://newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca/news.php?id=61 |archive-date=May 27, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In his final days in office, Mulroney conducted a European "farewell" tour using Canadian federal funds.<ref>Donaldson, p. 349.</ref><ref name="APNov1993">{{Cite news |date=November 6, 1993 |title=Controversial Mulroney Tour Costs Canadian Taxpayers |work=The Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/b0ac1cff1f85a23a36112393c5632972 |access-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028125707/https://apnews.com/article/b0ac1cff1f85a23a36112393c5632972 |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[1993 Progressive Conservative leadership election|June 13, 1993]], Mulroney was replaced as leader of the Progressive Conservatives by Defence Minister [[Kim Campbell]]. On June 25, 1993, Mulroney resigned as prime minister and chose not to run for reelection at the Commons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brian Mulroney |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brian-mulroney |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |language=en |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527050606/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brian-mulroney |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Aftermath ====
[[File:Canada 1993 Federal Election seats.svg|300px|thumb|The House of Commons after the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 election]] {{ubl| Red: Liberals (177)| Blue: Bloc Québécois (54) | Green: Reform (52) | Orange: New Democratic Party (9) | Mauve: Progressive Conservatives (2) | Grey: Independent (1)}}]]

In the October 25, 1993, election, the Progressive Conservative Party was reduced from 156 seats to two seats in the worst defeat ever suffered for a governing party at the federal level in Canada. The Tories were no longer recognized as an official caucus in the House of Commons since the required minimum number of seats for [[official party status]] is 12. As an example of the antipathy toward Mulroney, his former riding fell to the Bloc by a lopsided margin; the Tory candidate finished a distant third, with only 6,800 votes out of nearly 40,000 cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esm.ubc.ca/CA93/results.html|title=1993 Canadian Federal Election Results (Detail)|publisher=Esm.ubc.ca|access-date=June 7, 2010|archive-date=August 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830154131/http://esm.ubc.ca/CA93/results.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The more right-wing Reform Party won over [[Western alienation|alienated Western Canadians]] and replaced the PCs as the major conservative party in Canada; they won 52 seats and 18.7 percent of the popular vote, which was greater than the PCs (which won 16 percent of the popular vote). The Bloc replaced Mulroney's voting base in Quebec, becoming the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Official opposition]] (at 54 seats). In the election, Chrétien's Liberals won a strong majority government.  Mulroney claimed he was not responsible for the obliteration of the PCs, and instead blamed Campbell and her relationship with her boyfriend. In ''[[The Secret Mulroney Tapes]]'', it was revealed Mulroney said of Campbell, "Throughout the whole goddam thing she's been screwing around with this Russian guy. The guy was sneaking into hotel rooms and the campaign bus"; he also said it was "the most incompetent campaign I've seen in my life."<ref>{{cite web |last1=McIlroy |first1=Anne |title=Life of Brian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/sep/26/worlddispatch.annemcilroy |website=The Guardian |access-date=June 30, 2022 |date=September 26, 2005 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701001946/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/sep/26/worlddispatch.annemcilroy |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="MulroneyG&M">{{cite web |last1=Macgregor |first1=Roy |title=Years later, 'he bugs us still' |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/years-later-he-bugs-us-still/article738737/ |website=Globe and Mail |access-date=July 1, 2022 |date=September 12, 2005 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701035551/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/years-later-he-bugs-us-still/article738737/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the following [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997]] and [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000]] elections, the Progressive Conservatives would continue being the smallest party in the House of Commons, holding on to fifth-place status though regaining official party status. In 2003, the party merged with Reform's successor, the [[Canadian Alliance]], to create today's [[Conservative Party of Canada]].<ref name="britannica.com">{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2024 |title=Conservative Party of Canada {{!}} History, Beliefs, & Values {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Conservative-Party-of-Canada |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202235549/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Conservative-Party-of-Canada |url-status=live }}</ref>