Release Date: October 11, 2007
Media Contact: Stephen King, External Relations
E-mail: Stephen.King@uregina.ca
Phone: (306) 585.5632
Mobile: (306) 536.4312
Fax: (306) 585.4997
One of the greatest: Does this describe former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney?
It’s unusual for Canadian prime ministers to write their own memoirs, but former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has done just that. The reason? Mulroney wanted to let Canada know first hand why he attacked former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau about his criticism of Canada's World War II participation.

In preparation for the release of Mulroney’s memoirs on September 10, CTV Broadcaster Lloyd Robertson hosted a 90-minute special entitled “Triumph & Treachery: The Brian Mulroney Story.” The television special proved Mulroney is just as controversial now as he was as prime minister from 1984 to 1993.

Now, U of R history professor Raymond Blake will provide his perspective on Mulroney in a “Coffee House Controversies” talk that will examine the policy decisions of the Mulroney government and assess its legacy. During his talk, Blake will ask the question – was Brian Mulroney one of Canada's greatest prime ministers?

Blake is the former director of the Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy. His book Transforming the Nation: Canada and Brian Mulroney has just been published by McGill-Queen's University Press.

Blake is the author and editor of an additional eight books, including Canadians at Last: Canada Integrates Newfoundland as a Province (2004) and Social Fabric or Patchwork Quilt? The Development of Social Welfare in Canada (2006). His Beyond National Dreams? Essays on Canadian Nationalism, Citizenship, and Identity, edited with Andrew Nurse, is scheduled to be published later this fall, and he has just completed a book on the history of family allowances in Canada for the University of British Columbia Press.

This latest installment of the Faculty of Arts’ popular Coffee House Controversies series will take place Thurs., Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Chapters bookstore behind the Southland Mall (2625 Gordon Road).

Coffee House Controversies aims to bring the research interests of Faculty of Arts members to the community. Speakers give an informal 20-minute talk focusing on a controversial topic of interest to the general public. The talks are intended to encourage the open exchange of ideas. Twenty minutes of discussion follows each talk, during which members of the general public can ask questions or raise issues with the speaker or other audience members. The events are free and open to the public. Contact the Faculty of Arts at 585-4226 for more information.