The final farewell to Jim Flaherty was a sombre but luminous event made so by the galaxy of politically-important mourners and the rich colour of a Canadian state funeral. Scarlett-coated Mountie pallbearers and green-scarved notables throughout venerable St. James Cathedral set the tone. The Canadian Press report quoted the Prime Minister: “What a sad time this is in the life of our country,” he said. But Mr.Harper was mostly upbeat in his personal tribute to his longtime political confidante, CP says. 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. “I also wished him well in his next career … and I told him not to be a stranger.” 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.” Final farewell to Flaherty set in scarlett and green
by •
The final farewell to Jim Flaherty was a sombre but luminous event made so by the galaxy of politically-important mourners and the rich colour of a Canadian state funeral. Scarlett-coated Mountie pallbearers and green-scarved notables throughout venerable St. James Cathedral set the tone. The Canadian Press report quoted the Prime Minister: “What a sad time this is in the life of our country,” he said. But Mr.Harper was mostly upbeat in his personal tribute to his longtime political confidante, CP says. 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. “I also wished him well in his next career … and I told him not to be a stranger.” 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.” 