A Ford family friend missed by everyone
Late minister Jim Flaherty was key ally of former mayor
Although he could not be there in person, one Canadian politician attended the funeral of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford in spirit: Jim Flaherty.
The former finance minister, who died in 2014, was a close family friend and his legacy was alluded to many times during the service at St. James Cathedral.
Former Ontario premier Mike Harris recalled how he and Flaherty became close with the whole Ford family. Ford’s father, Doug Sr., served as a member of the provincial legislature alongside Flaherty during Harris’s government. “When you meet one Ford, you know them all,” Harris said.
The location of Ford’s funeral also served as a reminder of the two families’ close ties — Flaherty’s state fu- neral took place at St. James, and his widow, Christine Elliott, attended Wednesday’s service.
During his eulogy, Ford’s brother Doug recounted a trip Flaherty took with the brothers to Chicago, where Doug introduced Flaherty as the “finance minister of Toronto” and his brother as “the mayor of Canada.”
In addition to campaigning for Ford’s father, Flaherty was a key ally of Ford’s during his tumultuous time as mayor.
“I am close with the family,” Flaherty told reporters after Ford admitted to smoking crack cocaine.
“Certainly his family is helping him and wishing him well. That’s all I can say.”