Ottawa, Ontario - 15 October 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that the Government of Canada building located at 90 Elgin Street in Ottawa will be named the James Michael Flaherty Building in honour of the former Minister of Finance who passed away on April 10, 2014. The Prime Minister was joined by Christine Elliott and her sons John, Galen and Quinn.
The new James Michael Flaherty Building is a modern facility that will accommodate the Department of Finance and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. It is being named in honour of Jim Flaherty as a tribute to the eight years that he spent dedicating his life to the financial well-being of Canadians. A commemorative plaque, which will bear the name of the building, will be affixed to the wall in the lobby.
One of the longest-serving Ministers of Finance in the country’s history, Mr. Flaherty served from February 6, 2006 until his resignation on March 18, 2014. Throughout his career, he exemplified the best qualities of those who enter public life: a true commitment to service and a sincere desire to make the country a better place. This commitment to public service earned him the respect and admiration of parliamentarians of all political parties. Mr. Flaherty played an integral role in steering Canada through the highly turbulent international financial crisis which began in 2008. He was named Euromoney magazine’s Finance Minister of the Year in 2009, in recognition of Canada’s strong policy response to the global economic crisis which has contributed to our country’s heightened reputation on the global stage. Mr. Flaherty’s legacy also includes leading the return to fiscal balance, strategic investments under Canada’s Economic Action Plan and the introduction of key tax measures, such as the Tax-Free Savings Account and the Registered Disability Savings Plan.
