Some quotes from the state funeral about former finance minister Jim Flaherty

TORONTO – A selection of quotes from Wednesday’s funeral tributes to former finance minister Jim Flaherty.

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“As a human being, he was the complete package.” — Prime Minister Stephen Harper

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“What a sad time this is in the life of our country.” — Harper

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“Jim was driven by conviction, of loyalty to the cause and of duty to the country. He believed he had taken on a responsibility for all of our families, not just his own, and he was prepared to make sacrifices — ultimately, although he did not know it, to sacrifice himself.” — Harper

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“He was the most intelligent man I ever met and his clarity of thought was unparalleled. He applied those qualities to everything he did from the practice of law to his work at the Ontario legislature and finally to his tenure as minister of finance.” —Christine Elliott, Flaherty’s wife and a member of the Ontario legislature

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“He was a proud Canadian who loved our great country and even when his life became more difficult in the last year or so, he persevered until he was certain he would leave things in order for his successor.” — Elliott

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“I know that you’re all mourning Jim’s loss with us and feel very sad and empty. Jim would never want you to feel that way.” — Elliott

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“None of us called him Jim. He was Jimmy, Jimbo and even Zoomie … but Mum always called him James and most recently ‘my finance minister.’” — Flaherty’s sister Nora

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“My sister Ann remembers as a child my mother finding Jimmy throwing pennies into the garbage. When Mum asked Jim why he was throwing out the pennies, he said, ‘They’re not worth anything.’ Somewhat prophetic.” — Nora Flaherty, in a reference to Flaherty’s decision in the 2012 budget to discontinue the penny.