Friends in High Places: Brian Mulroney, George H.W. Bush, and the Creation of a New World Order

In the case of Mulroney and Reagan, their friendship paved the way for a series of important policy initiatives, including the passage of the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement, and placing additional pressure on other world leaders to help end apartheid in South Africa. [...] Confident in the state of bilateral relations, the two could turn their attention to strategizing about how best to reshape the world order after the collapse of the Cold War, what needed to be done to build an international coalition to repel Iraqi aggression against Kuwait, and how they could effectively manage the threat posed by the emergence of non-state actors. [...] Known as the Cliche Commission, Mulroney joined Robert Cliche, a former New Democratic Party leader and judge, and Guy Chevrette, leader of the province’s teacher’s union and a supporter of the Parti Mulroney and his Québécois, in the three-member inquiry. [...] According to Mulroney, 10 President Bush’s decision to go forward with strong environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act that resulted in an Acid Rain Accord with Canada, is a splendid gift to future generations of Americans and Canadians to savour in the air they breathe, the water they drink, the forests they enjoy, and the lakes, rivers and streams they cherish,” Mulroney noted. [...] 11 A talented and masterful negotiator, Mulroney relied on several arguments to convince Bush that it was in America’s interest to create a trilateral agreement, not the least of which was that with the combined resources of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, they could build one of the largest and most lucrative trading blocs in the world, possibly rivalling or surpassing the revenue generate.