Canadian finance minister stepped down just 3 weeks ago

TORONTO — Former Canadian finance minister Jim Flaherty, a fixture on the world financial stage who stepped down just three weeks ago, has died. He was 64.

Mr. Flaherty’s family released a statement that said he died Thursday in Ottawa. Mike Harris, Ontario’s former premier and a friend, said he suffered a massive heart attack.

Mr. Flaherty, who had the job since 2006, was the longest-serving finance minister among the Group of Seven leading industrial economies until he announced he was stepping down March 18 to return to the private sector.

He battled a rare skin disease over the last year, but had said his decision to leave politics was not related.

Mr. Flaherty was Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s only finance minister since Harper took power eight years ago. He is credited with helping get Canada back on track to a balanced budget after pumping stimulus money into the economy following the 2008 financial crisis.

The House of Commons in Ottawa abruptly suspended business as word of his death circulated and the finance ministers of the G-20 paid tribute to Mr. Flaherty at the start of their meetings in Washington on Thursday.

Australian Treasury Minister Joe Hockey, the current G-20 chairman, opened the group’s meeting at International Monetary Fund headquarters by describing Mr. Flaherty as a “‘very decent man heartfelt in his determination to deliver to Canada a better quality of life.”

“Canada is poorer for his passing and we are all poorer,” he said.

Harper addressed members of his government in brief comments that were televised across the nation.

“I learned a short while ago that our colleague, my partner and my friend, Jim Flaherty, has passed away suddenly today,” said Harper. “This comes as an unexpected and a terrible shock.”