Flaherty’s state funeral to be held at St. James Cathedral
Posted April 14, 2014 4:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Political VIPs are preparing to head to Toronto this week to attend Jim Flaherty’s state funeral at a St. James Cathedral.
The former finance minister died suddenly last week of an apparent heart attack in his Ottawa home. The longtime finance minister, a popular figure in international financial circles, had retired less than a month earlier.
On Tuesday, a visitation will take place at the Abilities Centre at 55 Gordon Street in Whitby, Ont., on Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Click here to leave a message on this online book of condolences site.
Flaherty’s funeral will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at St. James Cathedral at 65 Church St. in downtown Toronto.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will be among those in attendance on Wednesday, along with a roster of Conservative cabinet ministers.
Road closures for state funeral
Toronto police say as of 6 p.m. on Monday, Church Street between King Street and Adelaide Street will be designated as an emergency “no stopping” zone in both directions.
This is to allow preparations for the funeral.
As of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, King Street East will be closed to traffic between Jarvis Street and Church Street.
Streetcars will continue to run until 10 a.m. and then will be diverted.
On Wednesday at 10 a.m., Church Street will be closed between King Street and Adelaide Street. Southbound Jarvis will be closed between Adelaide Street and King Street and Adelaide Street will be closed between Church Street and Jarvis Street.
More funeral details
Canadian Heritage says Flaherty’s family appreciates all the expressions of support and condolences and asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Abilities Centre.
Flaherty will become the latest in a tradition of Canadian state funerals that began in 1868 with Thomas D’Arcy McGee, an Irish-born nationalist who became an MP and was assassinated on the streets of Ottawa after a late-night House of Commons debate.
Jack Layton, the late NDP leader who was opposition leader when he died in August 2011, was also given a state funeral.
It is an honour normally reserved for current and former governors general, prime ministers and sitting members of cabinet — although a state funeral may be offered to any eminent Canadian at the discretion of the prime minister.
McGee, Layton, and now Flaherty, are the only three Canadians accorded a state funeral since Confederation beyond the prescribed list, according a list provided by Canadian Heritage.
With files from Toronto Staff
