A full read of Glen McGregor’s “concerns” to recent state funerals in Canada provide great insight:
2011-08-24: Layton’s only second special state funeral
2014-04-13: Why a state funeral for Jim Flaherty?
Would most reasonable people conclude that the 304 words for the column about Layton constitute a fair and balanced objection compared to the 1,464 words against about Flaherty?
Opposition 2 Harper's decision re Flaherty state funeral muted by support 4 Layton state funeral, including in Press Gallery @glen_mcgregor
— Norman Spector (@nspector4) April 14, 2014
Neither Layton or Flaherty should have/had state funerals. One can rightfully ask where one would draw the line. It is not a sign of disrespect making this conclusion.
Given how recently Flaherty stepped down, I think he marginally qualifies, especially in light of his 8 year contributions.
I’d agree that Flaherty might deserve a state funeral. Jack Layton, NO!!!
Jim Flaherty’s family must be in favour so that’s all that counts in my books.
How gauche of Canadians to be talking about this before the man has been laid to rest.
Whether he deserves a state funeral is a debate for another day from the usual subjects. He did do exemplary work for Canada as Minister of Finance, was well liked by all who worked with him and knew him, IMO he deserves this much more than Layton, though not his fault,he really did nothing great for Canada beyond his NDP leadership achievements. He was also willing to join a coalition to oust a democratically elected government.
RIP Jim Flaherty, you deserve your accolades.
Well at least he mentions Preston Manning as a possible future candidate for a state funeral as he was leader of the opposition for much, much longer than Layton. Doubt that CBC would give wall-to-wall coverage with a still photo and somber music for 30 seconds before each segment.
But I think Flaherty would have preferred an Irish wake or the money given to charity.
I don’t agree with state funerals being used out of protocol. Harper did it wrong on both of these.
It is like flying the flag at half mast. Harper does it so often now they might as well cut the rope in half and be done with it.
Harper was also going to PC the national anthem.
So times the guy has his head up his butt (or more correctly someone else’s).
Although tradition says that only cabinet minister who die in office get a state funeral, it seems perfectly reasonable to extend it to cabinet ministers who step down due to health issues and die shortly after. Not everyone dies suddenly.
Absolutely right, Mike. There has been as McGregor points out, a very clear, simple protocol for these things since Confederation. Giving one to Layton was a major blunder. Now, everyone and his uncle will be wanting one too.
Incorrect rabbit. Flaherty denied that health was the reason for stepping down. Flaherty disagreed with Harper on income splitting for income tax and resigned as Finance Minister for that reason.
Let’s not make up things.
That might be true, but nobody has stated it to be true. Let’s not make things up?
Neither Jack U. Layton nor Jim Flaherty should have a State funeral.
Police forces should not pay officers to attend other police funerals.
It’s PC maudlin fake grief exhibitionism on a huge guberment pay scale.
Cut my taxes and end State funerals except for our existing military funeral program.
That would be -this- Glen McGregor, right?
http://phantomsoapbox.blogspot.ca/search?q=Glen+McGregor
This is exactly what I expect out of Glenny baby. He’s a card-carrying member of the Extra-Chromosome Left. Nothing short of Communism with gulags will make this guy happy. To a putz like Glenny, it isn’t enough for his politics to win. He needs his opponents to suffer.
I’m sure his personal life is all fluffy bunnies and sunshine too.
Bravo x 1,464!
I stand to be corrected but going back maybe two decades or so, I believe the flag went to half-staff on the passing of a retired Liberal parliamentarian/Senator who served for a very long time. Claude…? I can’t remember if he received a state funeral but I seem to recall the bluster that lowering the flag caused. At the time I believed that protocol dictated half-staff for Remembrance Day (and maybe the GG)
Jack took a bicycle ride to/from his state funeral, no?
Our witness program has it’s testimony/eulogy for posterity’s sake.
…-
“He came on a bicycle. I escorted him down and he went away on his bike.”
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/04/29/layton-found-in-toronto-bawdy-house-former-cop
The cases of D’arcy McGee, Layton, and Flaherty are all special cases: they all died because of their involvement in politics. McGee was shot, Layton’s cancer was arguably exacerbated by his cross-country campaigning, and Flaherty’s painful condition – which, contrary to Mike’s hope, was not cured – may have caused extra stress on his heart (not to mention what being Finance minister did to it). I didn’t think Layton’s state funeral was absolutely necessary – the man was never the governor of anything, including his chequebook and reportedly, his fly – but I thought it was gracious of Harper to extend it. And while, strictly speaking, Flaherty didn’t qualify because he resigned less than a month earlier, I think’s it gracious to extend the courtesy and uphold the spirit, as opposed to the (unwritten) rules, of the tradition.
I was discussing this with my wife yesterday.
With Jim Flaherty you can at least point to his accomplishments and say that the man genuinely served Canada, whether you agree with his policies or not.
On the other hand, Jack Layton never accomplished anything other than to get elected.
Layton wasn’t the author or co-author of any notable bills that were passed and he never gave of his time or money to charity to better other people’s lives, even taking subsidized housing away from more needy people than himself and his consort Olivia Chow, both of whom were bellied up to the taxpayer trough their entire adult lives.
I think the real problem here was that an editor had a lot of white space to fill on his bird cage liner.
Hilarious Phantom!
Bring on the Irish whiskey…and give Jim a proper send off.
Streams Of Whiskey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaHMG_SvUkw
Cheers
Hans Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
If McGregor doesn’t want to cheapen state funerals by giving one to Flaherty, does that mean that he would support digging up Jack Layton.
I made a list of Flaherty’s contributions to Canada. I then made a list of my father’s contributions to Canada. I then struck half the items from my father’s list.
Even after pruning my father’s list, he had still done far more for Canada than Flaherty. Some *substantial* contributions on his list, over a very long period of time. So my question is this: where do I apply for a state funeral for my father? If someone knows where the forms are please let me know.
My Dad is not about to pass away any time soon, but I might as well get the paperwork started.
If Flaherty and Layton have become the new benchmark for state funerals, then I think there’s a large number of people that deserve the honour.
Interesting point in the first link,Layton got a state funeral while Smokey Smith didn’t.
I guess in the eyes of the political elites, Layton was somehow more deserving than Canada’s last Victoria Cross winner.
NOT in my opinion!
The fact is, somebody just had to recognise St Jack for his missionary work with young, under-privileged Asian immigrant girls.
Seriously, when’s the last time Jim Flaherty was seen at the Velvet Touch Immigrant Aid society?
I rest my case.
No question that Jim Flaherty did excellent work for the country, but as pointed out above, his death so soon after stepping down from the cabinet and politics is more than likely coincidental rather than having been brought on by his professional responsibilities.
I don’t think either Layton or Flaherty should have or should be getting state funerals. The protocols are well established, and dishing them out with the rations so to speak simply cheapens the honor when it is appropriately awarded.
I would vote a state funeral for all liberals.
it is conditional that they not get a pension , not on them being dead
Exactly DrD, protocols exist so that the resident of 24 Sussex isn’t in the business of doling out these distinctions. Harper’s kneejerk reactions have consequences.
Once Harper made the mistake with a state funeral for Layton it lowered the bar to where any popular politician is eligible for the same treatment. I liked Flaherty and he accomplished far more than Layton ever did, but neither should have qualified for a state funeral. It’s pandering to emotion rather than logic and sets a precedent that will alter the whole concept of state funerals. I hope Elizabeth May stays healthy because she is now a candidate for a state funeral too. That’s where the bar is now set.
Hell, I will go for a state funeral for just about any politician who wants to remove themselves from the national stage. Jason Kenney disregard.
Your dad know that you are planning his demise?
So will Omar Khadr qualify for a state funeral when he dies? I mean, if Layton could get one despite being useless.
Er, OK, but only if they turn in 39 pieces of ID and promise never to vote again!
Someone needs to remind PMSH that an olive branch extended to the Left will simply be used to hit him.
“I don’t think either Layton or Flaherty should have or should be getting state funerals. The protocols are well established, and dishing them out with the rations so to speak simply cheapens the honor when it is appropriately awarded.”
DrD…..see the Order of Canuckistan to see where this is going.Agreed.Not very pretty.
McGregor has been trying to do a hatchet-job on Flaherty for years, and is not above violating journalistic ethics (an oxymoron in itself, perhaps) and common decency to do it. There is merit to the arguments expressed here about the appropriateness of state funerals for Layton and Flaherty, but McGregor has no credibility on the matter.
He may have been a Privy Councillor; all of whom are entitled to half-masting. And it is ‘half-mast’ in Canada. The Americans use ‘half-staff’.