Remembering a Canadian of Great Character

How Brian Mulroney made my Irish eyes smile when it was needed most

The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.

- John Wooden

In the days following the sad news of the death of Canada’s 18th Prime Minister, this quote from legendary basketball coach John Wooden came to mind as I read tribute after tribute to Brian Mulroney in news articles and on social media. Good character used to be the foundational aspect of being a good leader, but a glance at the news or the presidential cycle in the United States shows that appreciation for good character is in serious decline. How you conduct yourself and how you treat others is a window into the heart, mind and soul of a person. It is a sign of their motivations and it can be predictive of how they will conduct themselves in public office. Will they do the right thing for the long term well being of the group, or will they seek short term reward or personal gain? Brian Mulroney was a great leader because of his good character and particularly because of the compassion and kindness he showed to people when no one was watching.

From Atlantic to Pacific, from Conservative to NDP, from close friend to former rival, so many Canadians were mourning the loss of a former Prime Minister by sharing stories of his small acts of kindness. These stories are only becoming public now because people want to share with others how much the former Prime Minister’s compassion meant to them. A call from Brian Mulroney to congratulate you on the birth of a child or an accomplishment at work made your day and made you feel singularly noticed and special. But, it was the calls at more difficult times in your life that left the deepest impression. A call after the death of a loved one or after a personal setback or defeat. So many Canadians have been sharing stories of how much a call from Brian Mulroney meant to them at a difficult point in their life. This is what set Brian apart from other people in politics. There are many people who call you when you are basking in the glow of the sun in your political journey, but very few who call when you are being battered by the stormy winds of public life.

I cherish the memory of one of these calls from Brian Mulroney that not only lifted my spirits at a low point in my life, but reaffirmed my belief in public service. Like so many others, I am sharing these personal reflections to pay tribute to Brian Mulroney for the great man he was. But, to truly understand the impact of his call to me at a key point in my life, you must first understand how I came to have so much respect for the man on the other end of the phone.

Brian Mulroney was the first politician that I remember learning about as a young person. I remember my father watching the 1984 election campaign and the news coverage surrounding his historic election victory. I remember Brian hosting the Pope as a new Prime Minister because I was at catholic school and we watched the papal visit closely. These memories come from a time when I was just beginning to follow current events and the world around me as an adolescent. They are formative memories that contributed to my worldview and to my basic understanding of leadership. At this age, I did not know much about political parties or policies, but I clearly remember admiring the Prime Minister, his wife Mila and their young family. I also remember clearly his bold vision for Canada and the big decisions he was making for the well-being of our country.

I was just eleven years old when Brian Mulroney was elected Prime Minister, but by the time he left office I was serving as an officer cadet at the Royal Military College. While I did not join the military because of who the Prime Minister of the country was (and nobody should approach military service like that), I was certainly inspired to serve in uniform because of our history as a nation and because of the role Canada was playing in the world at the time. When I swore my oath to the Queen in 1991, days before my high school graduation, I was pledging unlimited liability in my service towards our interests and values as a country. Like the thousands of Canadians who joined the military that year, I was stepping forward to serve the country that had just helped bring an end to apartheid in South Africa. The Canada that had influenced the United States President to make the Gulf War a multi-lateral military action that Canada took an active part in. The Canada that a few months later would be the first nation to recognize the independent Ukraine after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the breakup of the Soviet Union. The Canada that had brought free trade to the North American continent and was playing a key multi-lateral role in addressing the global challenges of the era, from the famine in Ethiopia to establishing the framework to address global warming. Canada mattered on the world stage at that important time in world history. Under Brian Mulroney’s leadership, we were a leading middle power punching well above our weight. It is this type of active and serious Canada that I truly believe we must strive to be again.

I never met Brian Mulroney when I was in the military, but I got the pleasure to meet him as a lawyer a few years after I got out. It was during my time as an in-house lawyer for Procter & Gamble. I was in Montreal meeting with the law firm of Ogilvy Renault (now Norton Rose Fulbright) on a commercial litigation matter the firm was handling for us. After a meeting with the lawyers involved in the case, one of them surprised me by saying someone at the firm wanted to say hello before I left. That ‘someone’ ended up being the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney.

Unbeknownst to me, my close friend Walied Soliman had arranged for me to connect with the former PM knowing that I was a big admirer. It was an absolute delight for me to spend an hour talking about the military, politics, law and family with Brian Mulroney. I left his office feeling like we had been friends for years and that feeling stayed with me anytime I would run into him in the years afterward. Whether it was at the True Patriot Love golf tournament he headlined (photo below) or other events in Toronto he attended, it always seemed like he remembered our meeting years before. That was perhaps his greatest gift as a person. He was able to forge real connections with people and make them feel important, whether that person was a childhood friend from Baie-Comeau or the President of the United States.

When I became a Member of Parliament and later the Conservative Party leader I had many occasions to ask for Brian’s advice and I valued all of our interactions. Mila was also a wonderful source of support and advice for Rebecca as our family transitioned through the challenges of moving into Stornoway, dealing with the stress of media coverage and trying to find creative ways to connect with people amid the restrictions of the pandemic. Whether it was advice on Bill 21 in Quebec, energy policy or foreign affairs, I always finished calls with Brian Mulroney feeling better prepared - and more importantly - more positive on my own instincts and judgment than I did before the call.

During the federal election in 2021, we asked Brian and Mila to headline an event in support one of our star candidates in Quebec. They graciously accepted the offer, wowed the crowd and delivered an excellent evening in the Eastern Townships. Our goal was not really to win the riding he was in (we came third), but our intention was to showcase the talented candidates we had running for us in the province. We also wanted to remind Quebecers - and Canadians - of how well served they were by electing Tories like they did in the era of Brian Mulroney. Despite decades away from the political hustings and advancing age, Brian showcased his legendary campaign talents and gave a real boost to our campaign. The event remains a great memory for Rebecca and I from the campaign. It was also special to have our friend - and Campaign Chair - Walied Soliman there years after he had introduced me to Brian at his law firm.

2021 Election Event in Orford, Quebec

The call from Brian Mulroney that I value the most, however, came at the end of my time as Conservative Leader. In fact, this particular call from Brian was not even made to my phone. It came hours after I resigned my position following the loss of a confidence vote of my caucus. After the vote, I thanked my incredible team, filmed my final statement as leader and left under the protection of the RCMP team I had been assigned during the Trucker Convoy occupation in Ottawa. The convoy had been calling for my removal and I will never forget the strange feeling of being driven off Parliament Hill with the police escort weaving through a sea of shouting people holding signs or flags and in various states of what could best be described as ‘anarchy attire’. I arrived home from this drive, put on a brave face to comfort my family before dropping into a seat with a glass of scotch in hand. I had put my phone away and was just sitting there in a silent state of shock with the realization that my dream of becoming Prime Minister of the country I loved so much was over. It was at this moment that Rebecca came over to me, held out her phone and said: “It’s Brian Mulroney...”

At the nadir of my public life, Brian knew I needed a call. After having no success reaching me and knowing I was likely shutting the world out, Brian Mulroney tracked down Rebecca’s mobile number and called her. He asked Rebecca how she and the children were doing before insisting that she bring the phone over to me. I don’t remember much of what we talked about for the next 20 minutes, but I do remember how much better I felt when we hung up. A person that I had admired since my adolescence had gone out of his way to lift up my spirits at a time I really needed it. As a friend, Brian Mulroney knew when you needed a call and he would never take ‘no answer’ as an answer.

Over the next few months, Brian called almost every other week. He offered to make a public statement demanding that our children be able to finish the school year without being forced to move. We politely declined this offer, but it showed that his concern was for our whole family and not just the politician. Another time he told me stories about what other people did after a political loss, including a nice story about John Turner. One time the call started off with “Hello Erin, its Brian calling - Walied and I want you to come work with us!”. I smile now when I think of these calls and how much they meant to me, but it is also very sad to realize that I won’t hear that charming baritone voice on the line anymore.

I consider myself very fortunate that my time in public life allowed me to become friends with someone I greatly admired as a young person. It is a gift that very few people will ever get and I cherish it. I last saw Brian in person when we were both in New York late fall last year. He was a little unsteady on his feet, but as gregarious and interesting as ever. We spoke about U.S. politics and business. He had advice for me and made a very helpful introduction to boot. When I called him in January to thank him for our time together in New York, I am very glad that I also told him again how much our family had appreciated him being there for us through the highs and lows of politics. He ended the call as he almost always did by passing along a ‘God bless’ and sending warm wishes to Rebecca.

I will end my essay of memory in a similar fashion with our family’s most sincere condolences sent to Mila, Caroline, Ben, Mark and Nicolas and their families on their painful loss. I will also pass along a blessing befitting a truly great Irish Canadian who will be missed by many.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.