Former finance minister Jim Flaherty has died

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Published on Thursday, April 10, 2014

myWestman.ca

Canada's former finance minister Jim Flaherty has passed away.

Police and paramedics were gathered Thursday around his downtown Ottawa condominium. Flaherty, 64, was discovered with no vital signs. It's been reported that he died of a massive heart attack.

Flaherty was the finance minister since 2006 before stepping down last month. He had been battling a rare skin condition, but its been documented that his health was not a contributing factor in his surprise resignation.

He stayed on as the MP for Whitby-Oshawa, but was not planning to seek re-election.

“Today is a very sad day for me, our government and for all of our country,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a news conference after the news was announced. “This comes as an unexpected and a terrible shock.

“Jim will be sorely missed, not only by his many friends on both sides of the House.… He will also be missed by the countless thousands of Canadians who he helped through his years in public life," he continued.

The House of Commons suspended its sitting before its question period began as word of the death spread.

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