Speech at dinner for Canadian Prime Minister (Brian Mulroney)

Brian MulroneyPrime Minister, Your Excellency, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a very great pleasure and privilege to have you with us on your first visit to the United [end p1] Kingdom as Prime Minister and we are delighted that Mrs Mulroney has come with you.

We give you both a very warm welcome. We are also all very pleased to have here your new High Commissioner with Mrs McMurtry and we hope that they will be very happy in London.

Of course we did meet just a few weeks ago in Moscow: and I remember thinking, “well Mr Mulroney must feel at home here: its the only country in the world where their majorities are as big as his.” [end p2]

In this country we have a little recent experience of large majorities. But even we admired enormously—with just a bit envy—the huge scale of your election victory.

And we admired no less the vigour with which you set about implementing your bold programme.

How refreshing it was to see someone who has shown he knows how to run a business set about running a great country.

Prime Minister, you are one of those rare politicians who has actually created jobs instead of just talking about it.

The speed with which you moved to reinforce relations with the United States: to [end p3] strengthen Canada's commitment and contribution to NATO: to remove restrictions on enterprise and investment—all made a deep impression here in Britain and we congratulate you on the remarkable achievements of your seven months in office and wish you continued success.

You will know that Canadians have a particular place in the hearts of British people.

We remember—and particularly now, just a week away from the 40th Anniversary of VE Day—the valour and the sacrifice of Canadian fighting men in two world wars.

That is something which we shall never [end p4] forget, a debt which can never be repaid.

The constant flow of people across the Atlantic between Britain and Canada keeps the links alive. Last year, half-a-million people travelled in each direction.

Every year 10,000 British troops visit Canada for training.

I discover that Ministerial visits and planned visits in each direction are so numerous that we may both have difficulty in getting a quorum for Cabinet meetings. Britain is the second largest investor in Canada, and in third place both as a supplier and a market. [end p5]

Indeed you sell more here than to France and Germany combined.

I recall, Prime Minister, that you recently said:

“Canada is open for business again” . Well we intend to take advantage of that and do business with you.

I was delighted that Britain was the first country to declare its participation in EXPO '86 in Vancouver.

We also welcome the great contribution which Canada makes to our national life.

It is Seagrams who have ensured the survival of the Grand National. [end p6]

It is Ed Mirvish who has restored the Old Vic to its former glory.

It is Graham Day who is putting British Shipbuilders back into shape.

Why, Cambridge even sought the help of a Canadian coach for the Boat Race: and they didn't do too badly, after all they came second.

Prime Minister, there is more still which we can do to strengthen our relationship, as we discussed today.

And I believe that we can work together even more effectively than in the past, at many of the international meetings which we both [end p7] attend.

The Economic Summit in Bonn this weekend will be the first such opportunity since you became Prime Minister.

And it was clear from the talks which we had this morning that we see eye-to-eye on many of the subjects which will be discussed. It will be a chance to demonstrate how Britain and Canada can use their influence together for goals which we both share. And later this year we shall have another chance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting where Canada has traditionally played such a vital role. [end p8]

Prime Minister, this has been only a short visit but a very welcome one and I hope the first of many.

Vous êtes toujours les bienvenus ici.

I ask you all to join with me in a toast to the Prime Minister and Mrs Mulroney and to the very special relationship between Britain and Canada.