Perfection is elusive, likely impossible, in the sea of compromise and accommodation that is politics, but level-headed Jim Flaherty sailed admirably through that sea.
Flaherty, the only finance minister to serve under Prime Minister Stephen Harper until he resigned last month, died of a heart attack Thursday.
In his federal post, he managed the country鈥檚 economy through one of its worst economic crises in 2008-09, running up large deficits but leaving the books virtually balanced after his most recent budget on Feb. 11.
sa国际传媒 emerged from the global recession in better shape than most countries, and Flaherty鈥檚 leadership was an important part of that recovery.
Praise from friends is predictable; praise from former political adversaries is perhaps more telling. When news of his death was announced in Parliament, MPs from all parties were quick to pay tribute, as was former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae, who sat across the floor during Flaherty鈥檚 10 years in the Ontario legislature.
鈥淗e was liked and trusted by opponents as well as colleagues,鈥� said Rae, who also served for two years as the interim leader of the federal Liberals. 鈥淗e presided over a dramatic economic crisis and recovery, travelled widely and never put in a mere eight-hour day.鈥�
Flaherty鈥檚 own words make a suitable epitaph. 鈥淚 leave feeling fulfilled with what we have accomplished as a government and a country during one of the most challenging economic periods in our country鈥檚 history,鈥� he said when he resigned from cabinet. 鈥淲e live in the greatest country in the world, and I want Canadians to know that it has been my honour and my privilege to serve them.鈥�
