China News Service, Toronto, March 1 (Reporter Yu Ruidong) The family of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced on the evening of February 29 that the man who will turn 85 next month will be the fourth person in Canadian history. 18 prime ministers died.

　　Mulroney's daughter, Caroline, chair of the Ontario Finance Committee and Minister of French Language Affairs, announced the news on behalf of the Mulroney family that day and said that Mulroney passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

　　Mulroney was born in Becomeau, Quebec, in March 1939 to an Irish-American family.

He studied law at university and worked as a lawyer after graduation before joining the business world.

In 1983, Mulroney was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and passed a by-election to sit in the House of Representatives.

　　In September 1984, Mulroney led the Progressive Conservative Party to an overwhelming victory in the general election, becoming Canada's 18th Prime Minister.

He was successfully re-elected as Prime Minister in the November 1988 general election.

In February 1993, facing a sharp decline in public support, Mulroney announced his resignation, and Kim Campbell took over as prime minister in June.

But Campbell failed to reverse the decline in popularity for the Progressive Conservatives.

The party was severely defeated by the Liberal Party led by Chrétien in the general election in October of that year.

　　During Mulroney's administration, Canada strengthened its relationship with the United States, signed a free trade agreement with the United States, promoted the North American Free Trade Agreement, and strengthened the North American Air Defense Agreement.

He also actively promoted the privatization of state-owned enterprises, reform of the tax system, environmental policies and the anti-apartheid movement.

But his attempt to amend the constitution to resolve Quebec's status was thwarted.

The Mulroney government failed to effectively respond to the global economic recession in the early 1990s, and the fiscal deficit surged.

　　A report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) described Mulroney as one of the country's "most influential" prime ministers.

In 1998, he received the Order of Canada, Canada's highest honor.

　　After leaving office, Mulroney remained active in politics and business.

But in late 2007, he admitted under an official investigation that he had accepted cash from arms dealer Schreiber and apologized for it.

　　Canadian Governor-General Mary Simon, Prime Minister Trudeau and leaders of the opposition parties and other politicians expressed their condolences to Mulroney.

Trudeau said Mulroney’s role in building the modern, vibrant and prosperous Canada we have today should be recognized and commemorated.

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