Brian Mulroney calling

Mar 21, 2024

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In today's edition:

→ “He would phone literally at all hours,” a forever friend says of the former PM.

→ PIERRE POILIEVRE’s fundraisers reach far and wide.

→ Bro energy in the House of Commons.

DRIVING THE DAY

The scene in Ottawa this week outside Brian Mulroney's lying-in-state. | AFP via Getty Images

LEGENDARY PHONE A FRIEND — BRIAN MULRONEY used to work with YVES FORTIER. They were young lawyers in Montreal in the 1960s, one an energetic Progressive Conservative, the other a Liberal. Their friendship spanned more than 50 years.

They logged a lot of phone calls.

Fortier, now 88 and still practising law, spoke to Playbook on Wednesday from the United Kingdom, where he was arbitrating a case.

— A legendary CV: Fortier once argued for the federal government as the Supreme Court mulled a Quebec secession reference. He was counsel on royal commissions. He repped Canada in boundary disputes with Americans.

Once, Fortier turned down a Supreme Court nomination from Mulroney — a fact that was only made public when the former PM revealed it in his memoirs.

Fortier did take Mulroney up on Canada's top job at the U.N. No surprise why Mulroney made the offer.

“I want to have someone I can phone,” Fortier recalled him saying. “He would phone literally at all hours of the day or night.” With good reason: The Berlin Wall fell, the Soviet Union collapsed, and NELSON MANDELA gained his freedom during the time Fortier was in New York.

— Working the phone: Fortier's eldest daughter attended her first hockey game with Mulroney. The former PM and his wife, MILA, sent flowers when she married. The legendary baritone was also on the line in difficult times, Fortier recalled, including when the same daughter endured a difficult divorce.

“You have no idea the number of times that he called her to inquire," Fortier says. "'How is she?' he would say to me. If I happened to say, ‘Well, she’s very fragile,’' he would say, 'I'll call her.' That's the sort of thing that he has done thousands of times for people in need."

— One more call: Fortier spoke to Mulroney on the final Monday of the former PM's life. He had no inkling it would be their last call, though the dinner-hour timing struck him as unusual.

They switched from English to French, which was typical. Mulroney's baritone, however, had diminished considerably in recent months as his breathing worsened.

At one point, Mulroney said in French, “You know, Yves, I've always loved you.” But there was no drama. Fortier didn't suspect anything was awry. His friend was simply expressing his feelings, as he’d done many times over the years.

As they hung up, Mulroney and Fortier looked forward to another conversation.

It's now clear Mulroney called thousands of Canadians. Often, it went like this: Mulroney would ask about family, usually remembering every family member of whomever he had on the line.

A few excerpts from the House this week:

— ANDREW SCHEER: He would say, “I want to talk to you about something,” and he would say what it was. However, he would also say, “Before we get there, how is that wonderful wife of yours? How is Jill doing? How are Thomas, Grace, Madeline, Mary and Henry?” He knew all their names, and he knew how old they were. He knew what I had told him the last time I was on the phone with him. If I mentioned that one of my children was playing sports, he would ask how that basketball team of theirs was going.

— JOHN NATER: After he had delved into all the issues of the day, the conversation would turn to family. He wanted to know about my family, about my wife Justine and our three children, and he seemed most pleased that our daughter, like his daughter, was named Caroline. I think he was a little proud that my little girl, Caroline, has a picture of her with Brian Mulroney’s Caroline, which she keeps in her room.

— SEAN FRASER: Every time we would speak, he would ask how the kids were doing, making sure they were healthy. He kept an interest to see how my family and my wife were dealing with the challenges of being in political life, because he knew the impact all too well. After the Atlantic Economic Forum, he actually took the time to visit my family at my parents’ house in Merigomish, Nova Scotia, just to say “thank you” for the opportunities they created to have a family of young people who want to give back.

NEXT UP, MONTREAL — Former PM BRIAN MULRONEY will lie in repose at St. Patrick's Basilica in Montreal for the next two days. Public viewing will run 12-6 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday. Condolence books will also be available.

LUCIEN BOUCHARD, JEAN CHAREST, MANON SAVARD and PIERRE KARL PÉLADEAU are among the guests expected to pay their respects today.

A message from Google:

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For your radar

HOW TO COALITION — Three recent fundraisers tell the story of PIERRE POILIEVRE's coalition-building efforts in 2024. Poilievre's audiences could hardly have been more distinct at a drywall training center in Woodbridge, Ont., an elegant restaurant in midtown Toronto, and a whisky piano bar in St. John's.

Elections Canada records offer new detail into who was shaking hands with the ascendant party leader whose appeal appears to be reaching far and wide in 2024.

— Working-class Woodbridge: Poilievre stopped by the Interior Finishing Systems Training Centre in a battleground suburb northwest of Toronto.

The 48 donors who met him there March 6 were the sort of people you'd hire to fix up or renovate your home. They typically have small Google footprints and scant political experience. But they traveled to Woodbridge from all over the Greater Toronto Area.

→ Key brokers: MONTE MCNAUGHTON, a popular former Ontario labor minister credited with helping DOUG FORD scoop up blue-collar votes in 2022, was in the room. So were KORY TENEYCKE, the Rubicon Strategy CEO who ran Ford's reelection campaign, and VLADISLAV YAKOVLYEV, a Rubicon account director and former McNaughton staffer.

Also in attendance: BRUNO MANDIC of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, which endorsed Ford in 2022; Tory deputy leader MELISSA LANTSMAN, a key player in the party's next GTA campaign; and King-Vaughan MP ANNA ROBERTS.

— Top-donor Toronto: Later that day, Poilievre found himself at Sash restaurant on Yonge Street — a hop, skip and a jump from CHRYSTIA FREELAND's Summerhill home. The donor roll was packed with investment bankers. EdgePoint Wealth and Hazelview Investments in particular were well represented in the room.

Poilievre was inspired that evening by the personal story of Sash's proprietor: Chef SASH SIMPSON, an orphan in India, was adopted by a Canadian family. Simpson's journey is documented in a recent film, "Born Hungry." Poilievre mentioned it at a rally soon after.

— Spirited St. John's: Poilievre's Atlantic swing included a fundraiser at Sláinte, a piano bar with a view of iconic Signal Hill. A gaggle of hardened politicos gathered for the federal leader: Progressive Conservative Leader TONY WAKEHAM; former provincial Cabmins LOYOLA SULLIVAN and TERRY FRENCH; former MLA DAVID BRAZIL (whose seat flipped to the Liberals after he resigned); Conservative MP CLIFFORD SMALL; Sens. DAVID WELLS and FABIAN MANNING; former federal Cabmin PETER PENASHUE; mental health advocate GLENN ROIL.

→ Also at the bar: The records include DANA METCALFE, who is fighting criminal harassment charges after protesting Premier ANDREW FUREY outside his family home last year.

— Coming up next: Poilievre launches a cross-Canada tour today. He'll headline a fundraiser this evening in Toronto before hosting events in Mississauga (March 22), Ottawa (March 24), Westmount, Que. (March 26), Edmonton (March 27) ,Winnipeg (March 28) and Nanaimo, B.C. (April 1).

Poilievre will rally supporters at smaller venues in Toronto and Westmount, but the other five stops will pack convention centers.

ALSO FOR YOUR RADAR

BLUFF, BLUFF, PASS — PIERRE POILIEVRE wants to raise a little hell before another two-week constituency break. And he wants to do it by introducing a motion of non-confidence in a quest to trigger an election over the carbon tax.

Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

— The ultimatum: “I'm giving Trudeau one last chance to spike his hike, one last chance and only one more day,” the Conservative leader said Tuesday in opening remarks at his party’s caucus meeting to which the media were invited.

Poilievre’s gambit is a bit of a charade considering the motion would be unlikely to pass.

There’s the tricky piece of getting Bloc, NDP, Greens and independent MPs on his side. Plus, there’s still life in the Liberals' deal with the NDP to hold off on an election until 2025.

— Lawmaker math: On the House of Commons floor, things grew more rabid as the carbon tax re-interrogation dragged on and Tories goaded the PM to call an election.

Bloc and NDP MPs could not have looked more bored — staring up at the gallery or down at their phones while Trudeau and Poilievre sparred, trading carbon tax numbers, mocking each others’ math.

— Bro-iest QP yet: “An election on the price on pollution? We had three — and we won them all,” Trudeau said in response to Poilievre’s ultimatum. The Liberals around him clapped and leapt out of their seats to celebrate the big boss’ burn.

“Bring it on!” shouted Conservative MP LARRY BROCK from across the aisle.

Poilievre stood patiently, waiting for a break in the noise to deliver his comeback: “Wow, then he shouldn’t be afraid to have one more.” Tories loved it, obvs.

“Bring it on, Justin!” colleague MICHAEL COOPER yelled across the way. On the other side of the Tory benches, DAMIEN KUREK heckled, “Why are you so scared, man? Call an election.”

The public galleries were more packed than usual. As viewers trickled out after the show they could be heard asking if elected officials always behaved this way.

— More scenes: Liberal MP ANTHONY HOUSEFATHER, delivering an S.O. 31 statement — and then staying for most of the QP show … Former Bank of Canada governor STEPHEN POLOZ, taking in the fireworks … Carleton journalism school students, also in the chamber … Housing Minister SEAN FRASER and Citizens’ Services Minister TERRY BEECH, going tieless …Liberal MP MARCO MENDICINO hanging out on the back row with rookie ANNA GAINEY … PM JUSTIN TRUDEAU, spilling water on his notes and receiving napkins from his neighbors. (House Leader STEVEN MACKINNON removed the offending glass.)

A message from Google:

Where the leaders are

— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in the National Capital Region with no public events on his itinerary.

— Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND will be in front of the House finance committee at 11:30 a.m. to discuss Bill C‑59.

— Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE is in Toronto for a Bay Street fundraiser at The Permanent — the city's tallest building when it opened in the 1920s.

— Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY will attend a breakfast panel briefing on ending Canada’s support for fossil fuels. She will spend the rest of the day in and around the House.

— Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET and NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH have not released their public itineraries.

MEDIA ROOM

— LIZ THOMPSON of CBC News reports: Trudeau's Jamaica vacation cost far more than same trip the year before.

— The Globe's MARIEKE WALSH with a morning talker: "Poilievre adviser JENNI BYRNE's staff established second lobbying firm working from the same office"

— Top of POLITICO this hour: DONALD TRUMP has an early lead on JOE BIDEN. But problems are piling up around him.

— Writing for Policy Options, KATHRYN MAY considers Mulroney’s legacy on policymakers and the public service.

— On the “Red Passport Podcast,” LOUISE BLAIS, JEREMY KINSMAN and PETER DONOLO discuss what elections in Mexico will mean for Canada.

— Over on The Hub, RENZE NAUTA and SEAN SPEER examine what it means to be working class in Canada — and the policy implications of that definition.

— Want to fight climate change? “Fix housing,” ARNO KOPECKY writes for The Walrus.

— KERRY SLACK and ANNETTE FRANCIS of APTN write on the launch of consultations into a “red dress alert,” a system designed to protect Indigenous women and girls.

PLAYBOOKERS

Birthdays: The late ED BROADBENT was born on this day in 1936.

HBD today to Liberal MP JOHN MCKAY. Stantec’s STEPHANIE SPERONI also celebrates today.

Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.

Spotted: NDP MP CHARLIE ANGUS, Conservative MPs ADAM CHAMBERS, EARL DREESHEN and DANE LLOYD, shooting photos and videos as BRIAN MULRONEY’s casket was transferred from SJAM to an awaiting hearse. … Northern Affairs Minister DAN VANDAL, watching from above on Parliament Hill.

Tory MP DAMIEN KUREK, noting the curious timing of government-proposed elections law amendments that would delay the Oct. 20, 2025 fixed election date by one week. Kurek's implication: that extra time allows MPs elected on Oct. 21, 2019 to qualify for gold-plated pensions even if they lose their seats. (MPs qualify for the pension after six years; the current fixed date falls a day short.) The government's rationale: The new date avoids a conflict with Diwali.

A crowd at the Rabbit Hole going-away party for CLAIRE SEABORN, departing JONATHAN WILKINSON's office for a lawyer gig at Torys: Wilkinson and a coterie of current and former staffers, CATHERINE MCKENNA, GERRY BUTTS, ANITA ANAND, SEAN FRASER, JOHN HANNAFORD, MOLLIE JOHNSON, MICHAEL VANDERGRIFT, JEFF LABONTÉ, MATT DE VLIEGER, LISA JORGENSON, ANDREW BEVAN, PAUL MOEN, BRIAN CLOW and MARJORIE MICHEL.

Former Sen. DAVID TKACHUK in the Senate gallery.

Liberal MP JUDY SGRO choosing the “sugar bush special” for lunch in the West Block cafeteria.

Movers and shakers: JFE Shoji Power, an electrical steel component manufacturer that wants to tap into the federal Strategic Innovation Fund for “investment in increased manufacturing capabilities,” met on March 13 with PMO senior adviser BEN CHIN — the latest tête-à-tête in a busy lobbying season for the company. (More on their quest for moolah in this Hill Times op-ed from December.)

ISABELLE OBEID is the new federal Conservative candidate for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour.

CAROL DINNO joined Sussex Strategy as executive coordinator.

Media mentions: STEPHEN MAHER shared news that his latest book, “The Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau,” will be out May 28.

In memoriam: Journalist, diplomat and politician YVES MICHAUD has died. He was 94.

PROZONE

Our latest policy newsletter for Pro subscribers from KYLE DUGGAN and ZI-ANN LUM: Something’s rotten in Ottawa

In other headlines for Pros:

— Russia is winning the global grain war.

— COP29 CEO says climate talks will focus on slimmer agenda.

— Biden eases EV rule but keeps heat on automakers.

— US gives billions to island nations, tackling climate and China.

— Can anyone control AI? Inside a global battle.

ON THE HILL

→ Find House committees here.

→ Keep track of Senate committees here.

8:15 a.m. The Commons human resources committee hears from union brass and Labor Minister SEAMUS O'REGAN in its study of Bill C-58, the government’s anti-replacement worker legislation.

8:15 a.m. The House public safety committee hears from Public Safety Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC along with the heads of several institutions, including Correctional Service of Canada Commissioner ANNE KELLY, CSIS Director DAVID VIGNEAULT and RCMP Commissioner MICHAEL DUHEME.

8:15 a.m. The House official languages committee continues its study into language obligations in staffing and appointments.

9 a.m. The Senate agriculture committee meets to hear from bureaucrats on the government’s response to the committee’s report on Ottawa’s response to the 2021 floods in B.C.

9 a.m. The Senate fisheries committee hears from the state of Maine’s Department of Marine Resources commissioner, PATRICK KELIHER.

9:15 a.m. The Senate’s energy and environment committee hears from experts and Aamjiwnaang First Nation Chief CHRIS PLAIN on Bill C-226.

10 a.m. A trio of ministers will appear at the the House transport committee, starting with Housing Minister SEAN FRASER, followed the next hour by Transport Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ, then Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT at 12 p.m.

11 a.m. MPs on the the House science and research committee hear from post-secondary institutions on funding distribution.

11 a.m. Treasury Board President Anita Anand appears at the Commons ethics committee, followed by former ethics czar MARIO DION and current ethics commissioner KONRAD VON FINCKENSTEIN.

11 a.m. The House agriculture committee continues its study into Bill C-355, banning the export of horses by air.

11 a.m. The Commons health committee hears from Health Minister MARK HOLLAND and then later on Mental Health and Addictions Minister YA'ARA SAKS on Sup Estimates (C).

11 a.m. The House procedure committee meets behind closed doors to start considering a draft report on the question of privilege related to MICHAEL CHONG and other MPs. The committee expects to shift gears and open to the public about 10 minutes later to hear from witnesses on its study into the Yaroslav Hunka scandal, including officials from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

11:30 a.m. The Senate social affairs committee hears from Sen. MOBINA JAFFER on her Bill S-235.

11:30 a.m. The Senate’s banking committee goes clause-by-clause through Bill C-34.

11:30 a.m. The Red Chamber’s foreign affairs committee hears from Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration OLEKSANDR KUBRAKOV.

11:45 a.m. The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee hears from Canadian Medical Association President Dr. KATHLEEN ROSS and other groups on Bill S-250, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sterilization procedures).

3:30 p.m. The House environment committee continues its study on freshwater.

3:30 p.m. The Commons fisheries and oceans committee hears from Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier.

3:30 p.m. The House international trade committee hears from witnesses on the CBSA’s Assessment and Revenue Management system (CARM).

3:30 p.m. The latest at the Commons public accounts committee to testify on the AG’s ArriveCAN app audit: Deputy Minister of Defence BILL MATTHEWS.

3:30 p.m. The House natural resources committee hears from Justice and Natural Resources bureaucrats on Bill C-49, which deals with offshore renewable energy.

Behind closed doors: The House subcommittee on agenda and procedure for the public accounts committee meets from 1 to 2 p.m.

TRIVIA

Wednesday’s answer: LUCAS MEYER provided the voice of JUSTIN TRUDEAU on “The Simpsons.”

Props to GANGA WIGNARAJAH, NATHAN CARR, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, JIM CAMPBELL, ALEX PUDDIFANT, NICK CHAN, DAVID VALENTIN, MARCEL MARCOTTE, MATTHEW DUBE, BOB ERNEST and SULTANA ANJUM.

Today’s question: On this date in history, who tweeted: “just setting up my twttr.”

Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com

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