Whitby visitation Tuesday for former finance minister Jim Flaherty
Posted April 15, 2014 12:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mourners are gathering in Whitby to pay tribute to former finance minister Jim Flaherty.
Two Mounties in ceremonial dress flanked Flaherty’s casket as dignitaries began filing into the Abilities Centre for the visitation on Tuesday.
First among them was Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley. Former Bank of Canada governor Marc Carney was also among the VIPs greeting Flaherty’s widow and three children.
The former federal finance minister and his wife, provincial Tory legislature member Christine Elliot, were supporters of the centre, located in Flaherty’s riding.
A state funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at St. James Cathedral in downtown Toronto.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau plan to attend, along with several members of the Conservative cabinet.
Flaherty died suddenly at age 64 on April 10 of a suspected heart attack, less than a month after he resigned from cabinet.
Flags have been flying at half-mast on Parliament Hill and Canadians have been lining up to sign an online book of condolences.
