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Former finance minister Jim Flaherty passed away on Thursday, only weeks after resigning his cabinet post. Mr. Flaherty spent nearly 20 years in politics and was one of the longest-serving finance ministers in Canadian history. In his last public statement, he thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve Canadians and said "I am proud of the work I have done." Here's a look back at his career, in pictures.

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Ontario Attorney-General James Flaherty responds to questions at the Federal-Provincial-Territorial justice ministers meeting in Vancouver on Friday afternoon December 3, 1999.Nick Procaylo/The Canadian Press

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Ontario Premier Mike Harris (left) listens in as Attorney-General Jim Flaherty answers questions at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto on Tuesday Jan. 11, 2000.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Premier Mike Harris spoke at a pre-budget press conference in Toronto in 2001.DEBORAH BAIC/The Globe and Mail

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David H. Tsubouchi (left) jokingly holds Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's name tag in at Queen's Park in Toronto February 21, 2001.KEVIN FRAYER/The Canadian Press

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A round of applause greeted Ontario Treasurer Jim Flaherty as he rises to deliver the Ontario Budget on May 9, 2001.TIBOR KOLLEY

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Jim Flaherty greets supporters on stage after his speech at the Provincial Progressive Conservative Party Leadership Convention, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Mar. 22, 2002.Louie Palu/The Globe and Mail

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Jim Flaherty wearing a team Canada hockey shirt after giving a speech while on the campaign trail for the provincial PC leadership at the Hockey Hall of Fame, Feb. 26, 2002.Louie Palu/The Globe and Mail

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Jim Flaherty posing with the Stanley Cup while on the campaign trail for the provincial PC leadership at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Feb. 26, 2002Louie Palu/The Globe and Mail

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Ontario Premier designate Ernie Eves (left) hoists the arm of leadership candidate Jim Flaherty after Flaherty conceded in Toronto on Saturday March 23, 2002.FRANK GUNN/The Canadian Press

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In this April 4, 2002 shot, incoming Ontario Premier Ernie Eves, left, and Ontario Finance Jim Flaherty, scrum with the media.J.P. MOCZULSKI/The Globe and Mail

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty laces up his skates before taking to the ice in Whitby, Ont. Friday Jan. 5, 2007. Flaherty skated with young hockey players before talking about the Child Fitness Tax credit.ADRIAN WYLD/The Canadian Press

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty laughs before responding to a question defending his budget during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa, March 20, 2007.TOM HANSON/The Canadian Press

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty reflects on a shot during the Mike Weir Classic at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario on July 20, 2009.Chris Young/The Canadian Press

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty prepares to dog sled outside Iqaluit, Nunavut, February 5, 2010.Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press

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Mary Bucci holds her infant daughter Rosie while she and husband Mike, left, host Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty in their Oakville, Ont. home November 22, 2010.Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty speaks to reporters as he arrives to his fifth annual summer police retreat in Wakefield, Quebec on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty makes his way to appear before the Senate banking, trade and commerce committee in Ottawa, December 7, 2011.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty (right) and his wife Christine Elliott, MPP for Whitby-Oshawa, perform as Cannon Dolls in the National Ballet production of "The Nutcracker" in Toronto, Sunday December 23, 2012.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press

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Jim Flaherty is seen picking up a new pair of pre-budget shoes at the Roots Leather Factory in Toronto in this file photo taken March 20, 2013.AARON HARRIS/Reuters

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty ties his shoe before speaking at a post-budget event in Ottawa on Wednesday, February 12, 2014.Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press

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Jim Flaherty responds to a question in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 3, 2014.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

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Jim Flaherty announced his resignation on March 18th. In a statement, Mr. Flaherty thanked the Prime Minister for the "opportunity and responsibility to serve Canadians" and signalled his intention to return to the private sector.

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The Canadian flag is displayed at half-mast outside Jim Flaherty’s Whitby constituency office on Thursday, April 10, 2014.cassie aylward

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