TORONTO—A gallery of political luminaries from all sides of the partisan divide gathered at a cavernous Toronto cathedral Wednesday to set aside their differences and pay final respects to former finance minister Jim Flaherty.
Mourners donned green scarves, a tribute to Flaherty’s Irish heritage, inside St. James Cathedral as they celebrated the diminutive, combative politician, who died of a heart attack last week at the age of 64.
“What a sad time this is in the life of our country,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who began the proceedings with an upbeat personal tribute to his longtime political confidante.
Directly addressing Flaherty’s wife Christine Elliott and the couple’s triplet sons, Harper said, “We have lost a partner in politics, but you have lost a partner in life.”
Harper kept his composure throughout most of what turned out to be a cheerful, light-hearted look back on the time he and Flaherty shared together in power on Parliament Hill.
“Occasionally, I imposed a final decision,” Harper said of their periodic cabinet-table disputes.
“Occasionally I decided he was probably right. And occasionally, I decided he was wrong, but let him have his way because I just got so damn tired of arguing with him.”
But as Harper’s eulogy drew to a close, he had to compose himself as he described the day he accepted Flaherty’s resignation.
“I told Jim that he had truly been over these eight years, in my judgment, the best finance minister in the world, if not indeed the best in our history,” Harper said.
One of the most touching moments came when the prime minister addressed himself directly to Flaherty’s three sons, John, Galen, and Quinn.
“I lost my own father almost exactly 11 years ago, to the day,” he said. “That period, I remember almost nothing of what I said or what was said to me, so powerful were the waves of emotion.
“But once that passed and perspective took hold, I came to appreciate my father’s place in my life probably even more fully and deeply than if he were still here. And it is all good, and it will be all good for you.”
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and former prime ministers Brian Mulroney, Kim Campbell, and John Turner were among those on hand for the funeral, as were various federal cabinet ministers, including John Baird, Peter MacKay, and Chris Alexander.
A sombre but composed Elliott was effusive in her praise of her husband.
“He was a proud Canadian who loved our great country, and even when his life became more difficult in the last year or so, he persevered until he was certain he would leave things in order for his successor,” she said.
Onlookers began gathering several hours before the ceremony was scheduled to begin.
Flaherty’s death, which came less than a month after his retirement as minister, sent shock waves through the national capital, where flags have been flying at half-mast and the Peace Tower has been bathed in green light.
Flaherty’s state funeral is the first such honour since 2011, when former NDP leader Jack Layton was laid to rest. State funerals are customarily only given to current or former prime ministers, governors general, sitting cabinet ministers, or members of the Royal Family.
Some Key Dates in Flaherty’s Life
Born in Lachine, Que., Dec. 30, 1949.
Received a BA from Princeton University; law degree from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School.
Founding partner in the law firm Flaherty Dow Elliott.
Ontario labour minister 1997; later serves as attorney general, finance minister, enterprise minister and deputy premier under Harris and his successor Ernie Eves; loses bids for Conservative leadership 2002 and 2004.
Member of Ontario’s Provincial Parliament Jun. 08, 1995 - Nov. 29, 2005.
Served in Progressive Conservative cabinet under Mike Harris and Ernie Eves from Jun. 03, 1997 - Sept. 02, 2003
His roles included Minister of Labour, Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation, Minister of Finance, Deputy Premier, Minister Responsible for Native Affairs, and Attorney General.
Most known as Federal Finance Minister from Feb. 6, 2006 - Mar. 18, 2014.
Married fellow lawyer Christine Elliott in 1986. Their triplet sons Quinn, Galen, and John were born 1991.
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