A source close to the family told the CBC’s Evan Solomon that Flaherty died of a massive heart attack. Emergency services were called to Flaherty’s home in Ottawa at 12:27 p.m. Thursday. MPs suspended the House of Commons just before the daily question period, around 2:15 p.m. ET, as news of Flaherty’s death made its way through Parliament Hill. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair moved for the adjournment. “After consultations among House leaders, there is general agreement the House will now suspend,” Speaker Andrew Scheer told MPs. The flag on the Peace Tower was lowered to half-mast in Flaherty’s memory.
Apparently Canada’s business community remembers him as a great Canadian. I remember him raising the retirement age for everyone born after April 1, 1958. Things like that make it difficult for me to mourn. Regardless, condolences to those who loved and admired him.