Former finance minister Jim Flaherty dead

[Robert Upndown]

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/04/10/former-finance-minister-jim-flaherty-in-grave-condition-sources

 

[grusse]

I read today he'd had health issues during the last year, so maybe not as "sudden" as is being reported?

 

[Tugela]

wow, I wonder if he knew how close he was when he stepped down.

RIP JIm.

Probably. Few people step away from power for no reason.

 

[dickotoole]

Unbelievable sad. The guy resigns to get away from it all and a month later croaks. Life, live it while you got it because there might not be a tomorrow.

 

[sdw]

It sounds as if the final event was a surprise to Jim Flaherty also.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/0...etirement-filled-with-family-and-golf-dreams/

Jim Flaherty’s final days: Fleeting three-week retirement filled with family and golf dreams

Lee-Anne Goodman, Canadian Press | April 11, 2014 | Last Updated: Apr 11 3:37 PM ET

OTTAWA — Jim Flaherty’s fleeting three-week retirement featured treasured dinners with family, friends and plans for a summer golf trip to Ireland with some of his closest buddies.

The former finance minister’s sudden and shocking death reverberated on Parliament Hill on Friday as politicians paid poignant tribute in the House of Commons.

The dominion carillonneur played Irish melodies from the Peace Tower at noon, shortly after MPs remembered Flaherty for his dedication to public service and his good-natured sense of humour. Many of them wore green ties in honour of the longtime parliamentarian.

Flaherty will be given a state funeral Wednesday, sources say.

Details emerged about Flaherty’s final days and hours.

A government source said that Labour Minister Kellie Leitch, a medical doctor, administered CPR to the 64-year-old Flaherty before paramedics arrived at his condo in Ottawa’s Byward Market area on Thursday.

Leitch and Flaherty lived in the same building, and had dined together on the eve of his death. Flaherty enjoyed a hamburger and was in good spirits during their dinner.

The source says Leitch went to his condo the next day in a frantic attempt to save her mentor. The labour minister declined to comment on her heroics when reporters asked her about it outside the House; she cited patient-physician confidentiality. . . .

 

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

It sounds as if the final event was a surprise to Jim Flaherty also.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/0...etirement-filled-with-family-and-golf-dreams/

Her tribute to him in the House today is all the more touching; her recitation of the Irish Blessing one of the most hearfelt I've ever heard.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/d62jvYMGJMs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

 

[Tugela]

He was probably ill, and knew that his time was running out. Under those circumstances, if you have already achieved everything there reasonably is to achieve, it makes sense to spend what you have left with friends and family. Obviously he didn't know exactly when he would go, but I'm sure that he knew it was coming.

 

[Lo-ki]

Soooooooooooo very sad...RIP Jim