For immediate release:

June 7, 2004

Barrett pays tribute to Ronald Reagan

Queens Park –Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett paid tribute in the Ontario Legislature today to recall the achievements of former American President Ronald Reagan.

“Known as “the Great Communicator,” former President Reagan, who died over the weekend, is remembered for his sense of humour and his ability to fight battles without creating enemies,” Barrett said. “He will also be remembered for his deep-rooted conservatism that revolutionized America in the 1980s and ushered in the end of the Cold War.”

Barrett went on to highlight testimonials to Reagan from other world leaders.

“Former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, says ‘Ronald Reagan had a higher claim than any other leader to have won the Cold War for liberty, and he did it without a shot being fired.’” Barrett noted. “Reagan’s long time nemesis, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, had this to say: ‘He has already entered history as a man who was instrumental in bringing about the end of the Cold War.’”

Ronald Reagan’s funeral will be held this coming Friday. Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney will be an honourary pallbearer.

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