EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick — Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney hailed the environmental efforts of Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell at a press conference Thursday in Edmundston.

Mulroney said a “major new deal” is in the offing on the acid rain crisis between Canada and the United States.

In a press conference with the local and regional media, Mulroney also discussed his poor showing in Canadian polls, the roads in New Brunswick and the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States.

He said the acid rain and environmental crises that were thorns in relations between the two countries have lessened in recent years, especially since the administration of President George Bush.

Mulroney was quick to point out that “two new players” on the American scene, Bush and Mitchell have brought progress on environmental concerns.

He said Mitchell brought “inspiration … and effectiveness” to his leadership position. “Sen. Mitchell is admired in both the United States and Canada” in regard to his work with acid rain and the environment.

“He was remarkable …. He was the most significant reason for environmental legislation to pass” in the Senate.

Mulroney said a bilateral agreement between the United States and Canada on acid rain is coming in the form of an accord, which is “remarkable progress in the United States.” The prime minister said that he and Bush discussed the agreement just recently in a telephone conversation.

President Bush had said his would be an environmental administration “and it has been,” the prime minister said.

The year-old Free Trade Agreement is still too young to see its major benefits, he said. “It looks good … but we should wait 10 years to see it in proper perspective,” he said.

The agreement was worked out between his administration and President Ronald Reagan’s administration. It was first proposed at a Reagan-Mulroney Summit Conference in Quebec in March 1985 and became law on Jan. 1, 1989.