Hon. Jim Flaherty (1949-2014)

Earlier today - the Hon. Jim Flaherty, MP for Whitby-Ajax passed away.  Early media reports indicate that he suffered a heart attack.  Since the Federal Conservatives came to power in 2006 - Mr. Flaherty was the only Finance Minister of the Harper government until his resignation this past March

The Prime Minister speaks to Flaherty's death here while BC Premier Christy Clark speaks on Flaherty's death here

Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy MacLeod speaks on this to the Rush here

Meanwhile - watch a video on how his death hits MP's in Ottawa below:



Former Liberal MP for Toronto-Centre, the Hon. Bob Rae, speaks to Mr. Flaherty's death here

Mr. Rae invoked some words from former US President Teddy Roosevelt in saying regarding Jim Flaherty's political legacy:

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Finally - the last tweet from Jim Flaherty's Twitter account on March 18th, 2014 was:

It has been an honour to serve Canada. Thank you for the opportunity.

My prayers go to his wife, Christine, and their 3 boys for their loss.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

~SF