Family, friends and politicians pay respects to Flaherty

Canada’s former finance minister Jim Flaherty was recognized around the globe for his contributions to international economics, on the world stage. But today, in the much smaller venue of Whitby, Ontario, Flaherty’s home riding, the people who perhaps knew him best had their chance to pay tribute to the man that they knew simply, as “Jim” .

On a bitterly cold spring day a genuine out-pouring of warmth, filled the centre that Jim Flaherty built. He lobbied millions from both Ottawa, and Queens Park, to construct a state of the art community centre that would accommodate both the able-bodied, and those with disabilities. Something near to his heart, after his son John contracted Encephalitis, as an infant.

“He was a really great man. He really was for the region, he did a lot of good things,” says Kim Copetti, former Chamber of Commerce President.

Flaherty’s wife, MPP Christine Elliott, and their family received condolences from a steady stream of mourners from all walks of like, who filed in and out of the abilities centre to pay their respects to the family man from a small town, who cast a large shadow across the nation, and the world.

“He’s irreplaceable. You have a guy that for the last 20 years has just worked and worked and has got such a great perspective on things not only locally, but provincially, nationally, and internationally. So a guy like Jim comes around once in a lifetime,” says Colin Carrie, Oshawa MP.

Flaherty was known to be frank, and even blunt with people, yet despite that, he had an innate ability to draw others to him.

“I’ve been a Liberal since I’m 12-years old, and he turned me into an independent. I thought as long as you’re here man, I’m here,” says constituent Anita Hampson.

Colleagues praised Flaherty for his work ethic, and tremendous energy. Not only for how much of himself he invested in his work, but for how much of he was willing to give to them.

“Politics is about teamwork and he knew how to do it on an exceptional level, but also he knew that most important secret about democracy, which is that we’re here to serve,” says Chris Alexander, Pickering MP.

And although he may be best remembered for his role on the world stage as Canada’s finance minister during the worst global economic downturn since the Great Depression, his constituents remember him as the local MP who always had the interests of his city at heart.

A state funeral for Mr. Flaherty will take place at St. James Cathedral in Toronto, at 3pm, Wednesday afternoon.