Brian Mulroney says Conservative Party must 'review, renew and rebuild'

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney says the Conservative Party faces a great challenge now that there is a Liberal governing party and advised the party to adopt an optimistic voice.

Mulroney addressed the Albany Club in Toronto at an event honouring Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister. Before introducing Mulroney, Peter MacKay, who held several high-profile portfolios in Stephen Harper's cabinet, said Macdonald is as "relevant to the Tories in the 21st century as he was in the 19th."

Before giving his prepared remarks, Mulroney took the opportunity to tell several light-hearted anecdotes from his time in office, including stories about former U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, who were in power at the same time as Mulroney. 

In his talk, Mulroney said now is the time for the party to "review, renew and rebuild."

But he also praised Stephen Harper for uniting the Conservative Party when he was elected leader, and credited MacKay with playing an instrumental role in that unification.

In 2003, MacKay was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. He and Harper, the leader of the Canadian Alliance at the time, merged the two parties to form the Conservative Party.

"Opposition parties must be vigilant, vigorous and, if need be, unrelenting in their pursuit of a noble objective," Mulroney said.

The party should put principle ahead of popularity, he said:

"Our aim should be to enlarge the bounds of our party so as to embrace every person desirous of being counted as a progressive Conservative," Mulroney said, quoting Macdonald.

Mulroney said the Conservatives would return to power once Canadians trust them again and feel the party reflects their values. He added they will need the help from former prime minister Harper and other Conservative leaders, such as newly elected Ontario opposition leader Patrick Brown. He also warned those vying to be the new leader of the party to beware of the treachery involved in Conservative leadership races.

Mulroney also showed some of his characteristic humour Thursday night, saying he missed several things about being prime minister, including the "adulation." With some heavy sarcasm, he said he also missed the warm editorials written about him in the Toronto Star and the comments on the CBC.