Shocking news from Canada.
Former Finance Minister Jim Flaherty retired just three weeks ago on March 18 but he tied today after paramedics were called to his home. His death comes just 23 days after stepping down as the longest-serving G8 finance minister.
Flaherty was battling a rare skin condition but it was never rumored to be dangerous. He denied it was the reason he was stepping down. From the sounds of things, it was a cardiac issue so it probably was only semi-related. He was 64.
His last tweet was on March 18:
Jim Flaherty’s final tweet on March 18
Multiple sources now confirm that he has died. The House of Commons has suspended for the day.
Flaherty will be best-remembered in markets for a shock announcement to change the tax structure on income trusts after promising not to. In his final weeks in office, he took the opposite side of the Prime Minister and spoke out against a government promise to introduce income splitting.