Politicians at the Ontario legislature, where Jim Flaherty got his start in politics, were mourning the loss of their one-time colleague and friend Thursday.
In a brief statement to reporters, Premier Kathleen Wynne said all of Queen鈥檚 Park was in shock.
Wynne, who served opposite Flaherty from 2003 to 2005, said he was a 鈥渇eisty, articulate spirit in this place.鈥�
鈥淐anada has lost a great Canadian,鈥� Wynne told reporters. 鈥淛im Flaherty was a determined servant of the people who worked hard to represent his constituents in Whitby-Oshawa and their needs.
鈥淚 want to express my gratitude for his service to Ontario and to Canada and express my sorrow and sympathy to Mr. Flaherty鈥檚 family, colleagues and friends.鈥�
Flaherty became an MPP in 1995, representing the riding of Whitby-Ajax. He held several high-profile cabinet posts over the next decade at Queen鈥檚 Park, including labour, finance and deputy premier.
He maintained close ties to the Ontario political scene after moving onto federal politics in 2006. His wife Christine Elliott is an MPP, currently representing Flaherty鈥檚 old provincial riding.
MPP Frank Klees, who competed with Flaherty in the 2004 Ontario PC leadership race said Flaherty was a respectful, principled politician.
鈥淗e was never going to back down on a debate,鈥� Klees said. 鈥淗e knew what he believed, he believed it passionately, he knew why he believed it and he was willing to put it all on the line.鈥�
鈥淵ou could disagree with Jim; you could not dislike him,鈥� Klees added.
Former Ontario premier Ernie Eves called Flaherty 鈥渁 class act鈥� who steered Canada out of turbulent economic times.
鈥淗e has to go down as certainly one of the greatest, if not the greatest finance ministers the country has ever seen,鈥� Eves told 麻豆传媒 Channel.
Eves, who successfully ran against Flaherty in 2002 for the leadership of the Ontario PCs, said his colleague 鈥渇ought the battle hard鈥� but was always fair.
鈥淗e had a huge heart and I don鈥檛 think that that side of Jim ever got out in the public as much as it should have,鈥� Eves said. 鈥淗e was tremendously dedicated to those less fortunate in society.鈥�
Another former Ontario premier, Mike Harris, , but 鈥淚 loved him because he was an honest, good guy.鈥�
Current Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa tweeted that Flaherty 鈥渨as a man of great integrity. My thoughts & prayers are with Christine & family. He was a champion for Canada. We鈥檒l miss him.鈥�
In a statement, PC Leader Tim Hudak said Flaherty鈥檚 sudden death was 鈥渁 huge blow to the heart, both personally and politically.鈥�
鈥淧eople like Jim are few and far between, and irreplaceable,鈥� Hudak said.
Flaherty delivered his last federal budget shortly before announcing his retirement from politics on March 18. At the time, Flaherty said the government was on course to deliver a balanced budget in 2015.
PC MPP John O鈥橳oole said it was 鈥渢ragic鈥� that Flaherty did not get to 鈥渟hare in the glory鈥� of his contributions to Ontario and Canada following his retirement.
In a brief statement at city hall, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said Flaherty will be remembered as a 鈥渞elentless fighter and a champion for the people.鈥�
Flaherty was a close friend of the Ford family, having worked with Ford鈥檚 late father Doug Ford Sr. when he was an Ontario MPP.
Fighting back tears, Ford said Flaherty will be 鈥渄eeply missed by everyone who had the good fortune of knowing him.鈥�
