#marked #lives #Jean #Charest #recounts #moments #spent #Brian #Mulroney
Former Prime Minister of Quebec and former leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Jean Charest, visited Brian Mulroney last Saturday.
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In an interview with LCN, he says he decided at the last minute to visit his former colleague and friend in Florida who he knew was ill.
“He was weak,” maintains Mr. Charest. He had lost a lot of weight, but mentally he was there, he was very alert.
“He had a lot of emotions and he told me during the conversation I think I won’t finish the year,” continues the former premier of Quebec. To encourage him, what I told him was that it is the 40th anniversary this year of the election of his government. So it’s an opportunity to highlight his legacy. We agreed to organize a certain number of events.”
Former Quebec Prime Minister Lucien Bouchard also claims that Brian Mulroney told him “not to be surprised if something happens.”
“He felt himself leaving,” says Mr. Bouchard.
Jean Charest remembers Brian Mulroney as a remarkable man.
“He marked our lives,” he said. He was a mentor to me, he was a friend. For me, he was an almost paternal person in my life. We have no idea he helped people in his life, how impactful he was. He made history.”
The former leader of Canada’s Conservative Party remembers a time when politicians had to make tough decisions.
“It was a time when in politics where we started from the premise that we had political capital to spend and that we had to make difficult decisions, it was not a question of choice.”
“He showed courage,” he adds. Internationally, he was a great and well-respected prime minister. On the issue of the environment […] he was a pioneer.”
See Jean Charest’s full testimony in the video above
