We decided that the environment was an integral part of our policies and the political thrust of our government. We gave it the priority and we sustained it with the money required to make it happen.

In politics, madame, you need two things: friends, but above all an enemy.

Margaret Thatcher inherited the sick man of Europe in 1979 and transformed it into a powerhouse. When she left office, it was Britain redefined. And of course the frosting on the cake was her action in the Falklands, where she gave Britain back some of its pizzazz, addressed some past yearning and great memories. So she gave them back their pride. That was the first great thing she did.

Trudeau's contribution was not to build Canada but to destroy it, and I had to come in and save it.

If your only objective is to be popular, you're going to be popular but you will be known as the Prime Minister who achieved nothing.

I would go to them and I would explain this is the price of going forward. We're going to move ahead in all these other areas. We're moving ahead in tax reform and GST, we are moving ahead on trade, but this will not be done at the cost of the environment.

You have to spend your political capital on great causes for your country.