Melancholy Farewell

"He was a man who was highly principled and ruthlessly pragmatic, combative but engaging, smart and educated while never assuming that he knew it all.
He could be hard-headed, yet also soft-hearted.
He could display a quick and biting temper, but, far more often, a deep and gentle sense of humour.
He particularly enjoyed -- and delivered -- many jokes about his own shortness.
He observed that he never got in the way of his own PowerPoints, but, short as he was, upon the world stage he strode like a giant.
I do not say these things to imply that Jim was a contradictory person. He was not, in any way.
As a human being he was the complete package."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen arrive at the state funeral for former finance minister Jim Flaherty in Toronto on April 16, 2014. Flaherty died of a heart attack last week.   Photograph by: Tyler Anderson/Postmedia News, Postmedia News

 

Yesterday, Canada laid to rest its longest-serving Minister of Finance, who served under the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. A man of great integrity, pride and love of Canada, the partisan ugliness that has gripped Parliament appears somehow to have passed him by; he was respected and appreciated by his colleagues in the House of Commons, of all political stripes.

And on the occasion of his state funeral, many of those same Parliamentarian colleagues were in evidence to pay their last respects to a man they all recall with fondness. He served in the Ontario cabinet of former Premier Mike Harris, and many of his colleagues from that era were in evidence, as well. Along with the current mayor of the City of Toronto for whom he was a stalwart family friend, loyal to that friendship even in dire adversity.

A book of condolences and a photograph of former finance minister Jim Flaherty in the lobby of House of Commons on Parliament Hill. Flags have been flying at half-mast on Parliament Hill and Canadians have been lining up to sign an online book of condolences since Flaherty died last week. Photograph by: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand, Canada.com

 

A photograph of Jim Flaherty, along with several books of condolence were laid out in the House of Commons for visitors or anyone interested to write their comments in his memory, and many thousands lined up to do just that. His death appears to have joined together Canadians in a common purpose of paying tribute to a man dedicated to Canada's future, prepared to lay aside differences, for the moment. And they did in the most wholesome manner.

The shocking, totally unexpected death of this man who had resigned his cabinet post having achieved his goal of presenting Canadians with a balanced budget, foreseen for 2015, cast a pall of grief and disbelief over those who knew him as a reputable and credible man of public office. His premature death at age 64, just at a time when he was determined to spend more time with his family, after years of travelling the world in service to his country sent shock waves throughout the international community.

Ontario MPP Christine Elliott and her sons stand by the casket of her husband, the late former federal finance minister Jim Flaherty, during visitation in Whitby, Ont., on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

 

His widow, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament, Christine Elliott, and their triplet 28-year-old sons Quinn, John and Galen, spoke moving tributes to the man they loved and will now sorely miss while never forgetting that his spirit lingers over them and will do so to the end of their days. All those in solemn attendance, recalling the man who was, wore bright touches of green to pay tribute to the Irish in Jim Flaherty.

"Dad, I love you", Quinn Flaherty declared. "We love you. Put your feet up, lay your head back, close your eyes and relax. We will take it from here."