Jim Flaherty's final days filled with friendship, family, golf dreams

Jim Flaherty's fleeting three-week retirement featured treasured dinners with family, time with friends and plans for a summer golf trip to Ireland with some of his closest buddies.

The former finance minister's sudden and shocking death reverberated on Parliament Hill on Friday as politicians paid poignant tribute in the House of Commons.

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The dominion carillonneur played Irish melodies from the Peace Tower at noon, shortly after MPs remembered Flaherty for his dedication to public service and his good-natured sense of humour. Many of them wore green ties in honour of the longtime parliamentarian.

Details also emerged about Flaherty's final days and hours.

A government source said that Labour Minister Kellie Leitch, a medical doctor, administered CPR to the 64-year-old Flaherty before paramedics arrived at his condo in Ottawa's Byward Market area on Thursday.

Leitch and Flaherty lived in the same building, and had dined together on the eve of his death. Leitch told reporters Friday that Flaherty enjoyed a hamburger and was in good spirits during their dinner.

Three weeks was not enough for him to enjoy his just rewards- Chisholm Pothier, former spokesman for Flaherty

The source says Leitch went to his condo the next day in a frantic attempt to save her mentor. The labour minister declined to comment on her heroics when reporters asked her about it outside the House; she cited patient-physician confidentiality.

A witness outside the condo building said she watched at about 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday as a flurry of RCMP, police and paramedics descended upon the scene.

About an hour later, she said she saw Flaherty, his body largely concealed beneath medical paraphernalia, being wheeled out of the building, a distraught woman by the side of the gurney. He had died of an apparent heart attack.

An emotional Leitch delivered her party's tribute to Flaherty in the House of Commons on Friday.

"I loved you immensely, my fierce friend, and I will miss you forever," she said.

State funeral announced

Flaherty's wife, Ontario MPP Christine Elliott, and his three 23-year-old sons were gathering on Friday to make arrangements for his funeral. A statement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper later Friday said a state funeral would be held for Flaherty in Toronto on Wednesday.

Since his retirement last month, Flaherty, known for stoicism in the face of his battle against a rare and painful skin condition called bullous pemphigoid, routinely told friends and colleagues that he was on the mend and feeling good.

Even in his resignation statement, Flaherty insisted he was "on the road to a full recovery" and that his decision to step down wasn't related in any way to his health.

But others said they'd worried he was exhausted and struggling with his condition. Liberal MP Scott Brison, who also paid tribute to Flaherty in the House, said that he met with the finance minister at his Parliament Hill office in late January and was concerned.

"I hadn't realized how much discomfort he was dealing with," Brison said in an interview.

"But despite the obvious pain he was in, he continued to serve and didn't complain a bit. In his career and in his life, he had ups and downs, he had defeats, but these defeats didn't stop him or define him."

'Three weeks was not enough'

Chisholm Pothier, a former spokesman for Flaherty, said his friend's final weeks had been pleasant despite his ongoing health issues.

He had recently celebrated the birthday of his triplet sons in Ottawa, and the one-time finance minister and his friends were excited about their upcoming golf trip.

"They were planning their annual Ireland trip; they were working on that," Pothier said. "They go and they golf and they have a couple of pints and have a great time. It was something they were really looking forward to."

Pothier added ruefully: "Three weeks was not enough for him to enjoy his just rewards."

Leitch agreed that Flaherty was looking forward to a bright future since stepping down as finance minister.

"Here's a fellow who had the opportunity for a next great career," she said.

"He had had a bit of a weight taken off his shoulders, and he was looking forward to spending the summer sailing and spending time with his triplet boys. But you know, the business world was one that was open for him, and I know that he had had many individuals approach him because they wanted his intellect. They wanted his brilliance at the boardroom table."