The reach of Brian Mulroney

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/03/2024 (632 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“One of Canada’s most consequential prime ministers” and “Canada’s greenest prime minister”, are just two of the many accolades quoted on the passing of former prime minister Brian Mulroney.

His forging strong, lasting relationships particularly in the international community, enhancing Canada’s international reputation, and his internationally recognized role in bringing an end to apartheid in South Africa are known to Canadians.

His environmental achievements were many, including negotiating an acid rain treaty with President Reagan.

While Manitobans will have heard of the treaty, not many know of another decision contributing to his green reputation that continues to benefit Manitoba.

The 1987 United Nations Brundtland Report named after the Norwegian Prime Minister, chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development introduced the concept of sustainable development.

They defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Mulroney embraced the concept and decided Canada would be a world leader in promoting sustainable development principles to address the oftentimes competing challenges of economic growth and development to serve the needs of people, environmental protection, and the need for social progress and equity.

In May 1988, the Filmon government was elected and, among the transition briefing material, we found the notes on the National Round Table on Environment and the Economy, a committee composed of ministers and senior officials. Sustainable development was the major topic. There were musings that Canada may establish a special agency to promote and work on sustainable development.

Under Filmon, the Manitoba government made a critical decision to support and promote sustainable development adopting its principles in Manitoba’s efforts to promote economic development and conserve our environment.

And we thought if Canada is going to create a centre for sustainable development, why not locate it in Winnipeg? We had strong arguments for locating it building on our existing strengths in resource development, natural resource and environmental research capacities, including the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Manitoba, and our own nation leading commitment to implementing sustainable development. It aligned with federal political and policy priorities.

As is customary when a new premier is elected, the first conversation between Mulroney and Filmon took place. Besides the typical congratulations and pleasantries, the two leaders exchanged views and ideas on their respective priorities. Constitutional reform was clearly high on Mulroney’s list. On the second call soon thereafter, Filmon suggested that Winnipeg was the ideal location for the new centre. Mulroney didn’t say no.

A flurry of officials’ meetings in Winnipeg and Ottawa followed. Admittedly, progress was slow with the federal bureaucracy whose natural inclination was not to put any new centre outside Ottawa. Mulroney continued to be receptive.

It came down to “a decision only the PM can make” officials told us. We had no idea whether our efforts would be successful, but we knew we were in the running.

On Sept. 29, 1988, only months after we started, I was pulled out of a cabinet discussion to take an urgent call from the prime minister’s office. A senior official told me he was travelling in a car with the PM in New York on their way to the United Nations where the PM was to deliver a speech to the General Assembly including numerous world leaders. I was told the PM had made a decision and wanted me to advise Premier Filmon that the PM’s speech includes a reference to Winnipeg.

Within an hour Prime Minister Mulroney told the world “Canada will establish a centre which will promote internationally the concept of environmentally sustainable development. This centre will be located in Winnipeg Manitoba…”

This was exactly what we had asked for. We were ecstatic! More hard work culminated in a 1990 agreement that saw the official establishment of the International Centre for Sustainable Development. Ironically, the federal minister of environment signing the agreement on behalf of the PM with Filmon was Lucien Bouchard.

Since its creation the International Centre for Sustainable Development, headquartered in Winnipeg, has expanded its global reach with Canadian and international financial support. Successive Manitoba governments regardless of political stripe have supported the IISD recognizing the immense contribution the IISD makes.

We never knew what convinced Mulroney to support our request, whether it be political kinship, a favour to a new premier, for strategic advantage, or he just agreed with us. But in the end he did. I am sure he was satisfied with the results.

Don Leitch served as the Manitoba Clerk of the Executive Council and Cabinet Secretary (twice) and was a member of the founding board of the IISD.