Death and state funeral of Brian Mulroney



Former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney died on February 29, 2024, following several years of declining health. His state funeral was held on March 23.

Background
Brian Mulroney had undergone emergency surgery for an unspecified reason in December 2020.

In April 2023, it was reported that Mulroney was recovering after being treated for prostate cancer. His daughter, Caroline, stated in August 2023 that her father's health was improving following his cancer treatment in April and a heart procedure in August.

Death
On February 29, 2024, Mulroney died at a hospital in Palm Beach, Florida. He had been hospitalized as the result of a fall at his home in Palm Beach.

Mulroney's remains were repatriated on March 8, 2024, arriving at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport.

Subsequent events
A tribute in the House of Commons of Canada occurred on March 18, 2024.

He lay in state at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa on March 19–20, followed by laying in repose at St. Patrick's Basilica, Montreal on March 21–22.

Flags were flown at half-mast on the Peace Tower and all federal buildings and establishments in Canada, from February 29 until sunset on the day of the funeral, March 23, 2024.

State funeral


A state funeral for Mulroney was held at the Notre-Dame Basilica on March 23, 2024. The service featured readings by Mulroney's family and eulogies by his daughter, Ontario cabinet minister Caroline Mulroney, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former U.S. secretary of state James Baker delivered by colleague Tim McBride, former Mulroney-era cabinet minister and premier of Quebec Jean Charest, hockey player Wayne Gretzky, and businessman Pierre Karl Peladeau.

As the funeral procession entered Notre-Dame, church bells tolled 84 times in recognition of Mulroney's age at his death. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police honour guard wearing ceremonial red serge marched the casket into the bascilica while uniformed members of the Canadian Armed Forces members keep watch. The Royal Canadian Air Force band played, accompanying the funeral cortege from Saint Patrick's, where Mulroney was lying in repose, to Notre-Dame.

Honarary pallbearers, including former Canadian ambassador to the US Derek Burney, former senator Michel Cogger, businessman Paul Desmarais, Jr., former Canadian ambassador to the UN Yves Fortier, composer David Foster, former Mulroney press secretary Bill Fox, author and former Mulroney speechwriter L. Ian MacDonald, businessman Pierre Karl Péladeau, former Montreal mayor Gérald Tremblay and other close friends of the late prime minister, watched the casket enter the bascilica.

A Roman Catholic mass conducted during the service by Archbishop of Montreal Christian Lépine included readings by Mulroney's sons Mark, Ben and Nicolas. Local religious leaders presented prayers, and celebrants received communion.

The funeral featured a mix of classical, religious, and popular music, including a rendition of "Danny Boy" by The Tenors and "Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai?", sung by Mulroney's granddaughter Elizabeth Theodora Lapham. A performance of "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" by Lapham and Marc Hervieux concluded with a recording of Mulroney singing the final verse. Mulroney's recorded voice was also heard singing "We'll Meet Again" at the end of the service as mourners filed out of the basilica.

The ceremony concluded with a 19-gun salute in the Old Port of Montreal while the bell at Notre-Dame tolled 18 times in honour of the country’s 18th prime minister.

Guests
Among the 1,300 invited guests were Governor General Mary Simon and former governors general Adrienne Clarkson and Michaëlle Jean, former prime ministers Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Joe Clark and Stephen Harper, and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Beverley McLachlin.

In addition to sitting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, were Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

Twelve of thirteen sitting Canadian premiers were in attendance, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Quebec Premier François Legault and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Nine former premiers were in attendance, including former Ontario premier Bob Rae and former Quebec premiers Pierre Marc Johnson, Lucien Bouchard, Jean Charest, Pauline Marois, and Philippe Couillard.

International guests include ambassadors from countries all over the world such as the U.S., France, Germany, Japan, South Africa and Ukraine as well as Sarah, Duchess of York and former British prime minister John Major.

Other prominent guests included actor Ryan Reynolds, business leaders Conrad Black, Galen Weston Jr., Heather Reisman, Edward S. Rogers III, Harley Finkelstein and members of the Irving, Molson and Bronfman families, comedian Rick Mercer, former NHLers Serge Savard and Vincent Damphousse, and journalists Peter Mansbridge, Jean-François Lépine, Paul Arcand, Robert Fife, and Chantal Hébert.

Burial
Mulroney was buried the same day at a private ceremony, at Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.