Mendalla's picture

Mendalla

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Jim Flaherty dead at 64

I did not see this one coming. A month after leaving politics, Jim Flaherty is dead of an apparent heart attack at 64. I wasn't a huge fan (he was a Conservative after all) but found him one of the more personable and humane of the Harper cabinet ministers over the years.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jim-flaherty-former-finance-minister-dead-at-64-1.2605728

 

Mendalla

 

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chemgal's picture

chemgal

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Thanks for posting this Mendalla, I hadn't heard elsewhere.

 

I was a bit surprised when he left, but he did go public about an autoimmune disorder and I figured he needed a break and maybe wanted to spend more time with his family.  I wonder if the heart attack is related.

Sterton's picture

Sterton

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So sad!

Alex's picture

Alex

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I saw this coming. Anyone taking large doses of various kinds of anti-inflamatories but in particulare steroids are at increased risk of heart attacks, I have lost many friends this way. Former MPP Peter Kormos who also died at a young age., took antiinflamatories for years for a back problem.

 

Birthstone's picture

Birthstone

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Despite the news reports saying he was in good health, I'm not surprised.  Too bad for his family that he didn't step down much earlier. 

 

Politically, I wish he'd stepped down earlier too, though it wouldn't have alleviated much of the Conservative war path.

Inukshuk's picture

Inukshuk

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I was actually disappointed when he announced his retirement, just last month.  He seemed to be a rare politician / one that could be trusted.  His fiscal policy was sound (tightening up mortgage lending rules etc) and he created the registered disability savings plan - unique to Canada, I think, - which helped to alleviate the stress load of parents who have children with disabilities.  The skin disease he lived with sounds incredibly painful.

Jim Kenney's picture

Jim Kenney

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While reporters mentioned the skin problem, he also just did not look well.  Having heard a great deal about his personal integrity, I suspect his life in cabinet must have been very stressful for him -- 9 years as finance minister would have been quite a grind.  It is unfortunate that the corrosive nature of our current politics will go relatively unnoticed.  What kind of price are some of the other political leaders paying health-wise?

Mendalla's picture

Mendalla

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Jim Kenney wrote:

While reporters mentioned the skin problem, he also just did not look well.  Having heard a great deal about his personal integrity, I suspect his life in cabinet must have been very stressful for him -- 9 years as finance minister would have been quite a grind.  It is unfortunate that the corrosive nature of our current politics will go relatively unnoticed.  What kind of price are some of the other political leaders paying health-wise?

 

That's kind of my thought, too. The stress from coping with the skin condition plus side effects from the drugs (as Alex mentioned) plus the stress of a life in politics (he was Ontario's finance minister prior to entering federal politics) seems like a rather dangerous combination to me.

 

Mendalla

 

lastpointe's picture

lastpointe

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He certainly leaves an amazing legacy. Canada survived the recession better than any country, he set up the diabilty plan which is unique in Canada, he was a huge supporter of the special Olympics and was the best finance minister we have ever had, and led the world for years.

Integrity, humour, compassion and a willingness to adapt his policies when required, as in taking o a deficit to help the country get through the recession.

Very sad day,

Birthstone's picture

Birthstone

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I beg to disagree on his place as a good finance minister, and remind the room that the liberals put in place the banking safeguards that stabilized Canada, as well as establishing the surpluses. The efficacy of management of the country's finances since are up for substantial debate, even within conservative circles.

I would say though, he was a dedicated Canadian public servant, with many skills. Perhaps under a different leader?

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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Yes, I sense his disagreements with Harper took their toll

lastpointe's picture

lastpointe

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Birthstone,

I think you are in a minority.

You may not agree with the conservative policies but they kept us out of massive trouble at a time when the entire world crashed. Around the world he was recognized as a phenomenal minister.

And by all accounts, he and Harper had a great relationship and friendship. They were able to disagree, and come to consensus. Unlike Martin and Cretien who hated each other and tore the liberal party apart

Kimmio's picture

Kimmio

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He seemed like a friendly person in interviews, nonetheless. He should have taken early retirement. Didn't he up it to 67? A lesson could be learned from his untimely passing.

Pinga's picture

Pinga

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He was able to keep things together, but he was a man in the right company at the right time.

The banking system in Canada was in place long before he was

Birthstone's picture

Birthstone

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I see that Flaherty gets his state funeral this week.    I love that the CN tower will be green in his honour. :)

I'm sure that more than 2/3 of the country voted for someone else, and that number has grown. That the Liberals put those controls in place is well established.  Martin should never have been PM but he was good as a Finance minister (mostly).  I'm not alone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mendalla's picture

Mendalla

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Good finance ministers rarely make good PMs. They are too detail oriented. PM is about the big picture, about holding it all together and keeping things moving forward. FM is about the dollars and cents and balancing books. Ideal is a strong PM with a vision and a finance minister with the foresight and money sense to show how to finance that vision.

 

Flaherty was a good finance minister (perhaps not as good as Martin, though) but I doubt he would have made a good PM. Martin is the case in point for my first sentence, though he at least got some of his non-finance agenda (e.g. same sex marriage) through. He was also a victim of Chretien's scandals to some extent.

 

Mendalla

 

Mendalla's picture

Mendalla

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Birthstone wrote:

I see that Flaherty gets his state funeral this week.   

 

I am wondering what is the protocol for state funerals in Canada. I can't think of another case where we've had one for a cabinet minister (Jack Layton was leader of the official opposition so I kind of get it in his case).

 

Mendalla

 

Asking's picture

Asking

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Mendalla wrote:

Birthstone wrote:

I see that Flaherty gets his state funeral this week.   

I am wondering what is the protocol for state funerals in Canada. I can't think of another case where we've had one for a cabinet minister (Jack Layton was leader of the official opposition so I kind of get it in his case).

Mendalla

 

http://o.canada.com/news/national/who-has-had-state-funerals-and-how-do-they-work/

 

By practice, the government of Canada offers a state funeral to present and former prime ministers, present and former governors-general and sitting ministers; also to others at the discretion of the prime minister.

 

Harper has made good decisions in offering a state funeral to Robert Layton and to Jim Flaherty.

 

The family is not obliged to accept the offer but if it does accept, decisions regarding the planning of the funeral are made by the family in consultation with the government.

InannaWhimsey's picture

InannaWhimsey

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what i'm loving is the awesome humanity that is being shown in our media (yay Canadian media!!!  where a flower growing is a national news story...). like when Mulcair is breaking down on camera

 

seeing people like Ford pay homage

 

seeing the discussion panel on the National and how they pay'd homage

 

seeing how Questions period was cancelled, the flowers on Jim's seat, seeing the people on the opposite side walk over the two sword lengths to be with the 'other side'...

 

death brings life into sharp focus, what is important...showing cynicism & pessimism & tribalisms ('i'm liberal, so i don't like conservatives', 'i'm green, so i hate capitalists', etc) for what it really is -- its part of the game that we all voluntarily play (even if we lose sight of it and forget...)

 

jim died way way too young

 

i hope his death will be as big as Layton's...

 

redhead (i think it was) once wrote here how she had trouble finding an example of a good conservative...I point out Jim & certain conservative's reactions to Jim's death...study it, take it in, experience...

Mendalla's picture

Mendalla

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Asking wrote:

 

Harper has made good decisions in offering a state funeral to Robert Jack Layton and to Jim Flaherty.

 

 

Fixed yer typo.

 

Mendalla

 

Asking's picture

Asking

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Mendalla wrote:

Fixed yer typo.

 

Mendalla

 

Thanks, Mendella.  My error.

Kimmio's picture

Kimmio

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I get the sense that he was well liked and did his best. His staunchest critics were in tears. RIP.

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/politics/story/1.2606400

stardust's picture

stardust

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Condolences to the family and friends of Jim Flaherty.

 

In Loving Memory

 


InannaWhimsey's picture

InannaWhimsey

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i'm watching his state funeral and i find myself crying at some of the music

 

its so strange how music can affect me that way -- i don't know the words, i don't know the melody, i don't know the significance, but...wow

 

I WISH THE ANNOUNCERS WOULD STFU

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