Canada’s Progressive Conservative prime minister from 1984 to 1993 died at 84 after mounting health problems culminating in a fall. Former U.S. secretary of state James Baker, a Republican, wrote that flags around the world should fly at half-mast in Mulroney’s memory; ex-environment minister Catherine McKenna, a Liberal, called him “a true champion for the environment.” Flags on Parliament Hill flew at half-mast, and the House of Commons adjourned early. “We’re working with the family closely to ensure that all of their wishes are respected and that it be the right and fitting tribute to him,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. “There will be opportunities for Canadians to express their gratitude and share tributes to the former prime minister as the coming days and weeks unfold.” (Toronto Star, The Logic)

Talking point: Mulroney’s government negotiated free trade deals with the U.S. and then added Mexico, led efforts to fight acid rain and ozone depletion, introduced the GST to replace a manufacturing tax, privatized Air Canada and Petro-Canada (and ended Pierre Trudeau’s National Energy Program) and worked to isolate South Africa’s racist Apartheid regime. He also made two catastrophic attempts to revise the Constitution, had multiple associates implicated in scandals (and his own trouble over cash payments he took from a lobbyist), and the Tories’ 1993 election wipeout is legendary. Nevertheless, his nearly nine years in power did much to define Canada’s economy and politics even 30 years later.