Mila Mulroney
Encyclopedia
Milica "Mila" Mulroney (Serbian Cyrillic: Милица "Мила" Пивнички - Milica "Mila" Pivnicki), (born July 13, 1953) is the wife of the 18th Prime Minister of Canada
, Brian Mulroney
. They have one daughter, Caroline, and three sons, Benedict
, Mark, and Nicholas. Their youngest child, Nicholas, was born while the family was living in 24 Sussex Drive
.
Orthodox
parents Dimitrije Mita Pivnicki and Bogdanka Ilić in Sarajevo
, SR Bosnia-Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
. Her first years were spent in the city of Sarajevo where her father was assigned to practice medicine by Yugoslav communist authorities. In 1956, Dr. Pivnicki took a research fellowship position at the Royal Victoria Hospital's Allan Memorial Institute of Psychiatry
in Montreal
in order to circumvent the strict exit rules in Yugoslavia and get his family out of the country. While his pregnant wife Bogdanka waited to join him, she moved with young Milica back to their hometown of Novi Bečej
, Serbia
. Finally, some two years later, in 1958, she and their two children (5-year-old Milica and 1-year-old Jovan) immigrated to Canada and joined Dimitrije in Montreal.
Mila, the elder child, studied engineering
at Concordia University, but did not graduate.
At the age of 19, she married Brian Mulroney, then a 34-year-old lawyer, on May 26, 1973. Both were involved with the Progressive Conservatives
in Westmount
. Mila played a large role in Brian’s first campaign for the Progressive Conservative Party leadership
.
Mila was a radical change from the wives of recent prime ministers —the feminist Maureen McTeer
and the “wild child,” Margaret Trudeau
. Being a housewife, she greatly appealed to that demographic, especially in her responses to criticism from prominent feminists (including, in 1987, remarks from Sheila Copps
). Many PC campaign buttons featured both Mulroney’s face and hers, and Ontario
Premier
Bill Davis
commented to Brian, “Mila will get you more votes for you than you will for yourself.”
She took on a greater role than many Prime Ministers’ wives while Brian was in office, acting as a campaigner for several children’s charities. Her role, which some claimed was trying to become a “First Lady
,” was criticized (especially when she hired a personal office and staff and for her lavish redecoration of the Prime Minister's residence). Her frequent shopping sprees became tabloid fodder, with some in the press dubbing her “Imelda
” for her love of shoes (she allegedly had over 100 pairs).
In her book On the Take, Stevie Cameron
accused Mila of trying to sell her old furniture to the government for much more than it was worth.
She is currently a director of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and of Astral Media
.
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
. They have one daughter, Caroline, and three sons, Benedict
Ben Mulroney
Benedict Martin Paul "Ben" Mulroney is a Canadian television host, and is the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.-Early life:...
, Mark, and Nicholas. Their youngest child, Nicholas, was born while the family was living in 24 Sussex Drive
24 Sussex Drive
24 Sussex Drive is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada, located in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario. Built between 1866 and 1868 by Joseph Merrill Currier, it has been the official home of the Canadian prime minister since 1951.-History:The house at 24 Sussex...
.
Biography
She was born Milica Pivnički to SerbianSerbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
Orthodox
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
parents Dimitrije Mita Pivnicki and Bogdanka Ilić in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, SR Bosnia-Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. Her first years were spent in the city of Sarajevo where her father was assigned to practice medicine by Yugoslav communist authorities. In 1956, Dr. Pivnicki took a research fellowship position at the Royal Victoria Hospital's Allan Memorial Institute of Psychiatry
Allan Memorial Institute
The Allan Memorial Institute , located in Montreal, Quebec, houses the Psychiatry Department of the Royal Victoria Hospital, part of the McGill University Health Centre. Although currently a respected psychiatric hospital, the institute is known for its role in the Project MKULTRA by the CIA...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in order to circumvent the strict exit rules in Yugoslavia and get his family out of the country. While his pregnant wife Bogdanka waited to join him, she moved with young Milica back to their hometown of Novi Bečej
Novi Becej
Novi Bečej , is a town and municipality in Central Banat District of Vojvodina, Serbia. The town has a population of 14,406, while Novi Bečej municipality has 26,881 inhabitants.-Name:Its name means "new Bečej"...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. Finally, some two years later, in 1958, she and their two children (5-year-old Milica and 1-year-old Jovan) immigrated to Canada and joined Dimitrije in Montreal.
Mila, the elder child, studied engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at Concordia University, but did not graduate.
At the age of 19, she married Brian Mulroney, then a 34-year-old lawyer, on May 26, 1973. Both were involved with the Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
in Westmount
Westmount, Quebec
Westmount is a city on the Island of Montreal, an enclave of the city of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada; pop. 20,494; area 4.02 km²; population density of 5,092.56 inhabitants/km²....
. Mila played a large role in Brian’s first campaign for the Progressive Conservative Party leadership
Progressive Conservative leadership convention, 1976
The 1976 leadership election of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was held in Ottawa on February 22, 1976, to elect a leader to replace Robert Stanfield, who had resigned after losing the 1968, 1972, and 1974 elections. It unexpectedly elected a 36-year-old, little-known PC Member of...
.
Mila was a radical change from the wives of recent prime ministers —the feminist Maureen McTeer
Maureen McTeer
Maureen Anne McTeer is a Canadian author and a lawyer, married to Joe Clark, the 16th Prime Minister of Canada.-Life and career:...
and the “wild child,” Margaret Trudeau
Margaret Trudeau
Margaret Joan Sinclair Trudeau Kemper is the former wife of the late Pierre Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada.-Early years and marriage:...
. Being a housewife, she greatly appealed to that demographic, especially in her responses to criticism from prominent feminists (including, in 1987, remarks from Sheila Copps
Sheila Copps
Sheila Maureen Copps, PC is a former Canadian politician who also served as Deputy Prime Minister of Canada from November 4, 1993 to April 30, 1996 and June 19, 1996 to June 11, 1997....
). Many PC campaign buttons featured both Mulroney’s face and hers, and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Premier
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
commented to Brian, “Mila will get you more votes for you than you will for yourself.”
She took on a greater role than many Prime Ministers’ wives while Brian was in office, acting as a campaigner for several children’s charities. Her role, which some claimed was trying to become a “First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
,” was criticized (especially when she hired a personal office and staff and for her lavish redecoration of the Prime Minister's residence). Her frequent shopping sprees became tabloid fodder, with some in the press dubbing her “Imelda
Imelda Marcos
Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political power, she held various positions to the government until 1986...
” for her love of shoes (she allegedly had over 100 pairs).
In her book On the Take, Stevie Cameron
Stevie Cameron
Stevie Cameron is an award-winning Canadian investigative journalist and best-selling author. Born in Belleville, Ontario in 1943, she now lives in Toronto with her husband, David Cameron, a professor at the University of Toronto. They have two daughters; both Toronto-based screenwriters.-Early...
accused Mila of trying to sell her old furniture to the government for much more than it was worth.
She is currently a director of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and of Astral Media
Astral Media
Astral Media Inc. is a Canadian media corporation. It is Canada's largest radio broadcaster with 83 radio stations in eight provinces, and is a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, including The Movie Network, Super Écran, Family, Teletoon, Canal D, Canal Vie, VRAK.TV,...
.