The Honourable James M. Flaherty was appointed Deputy Premier and Minister
of Finance for the Province of Ontario on February 8, 2001. First elected
in 1995 and re-elected in 1999, he serves as the Member of Provincial
Parliament for the riding of Whitby-Ajax. As Minister of Finance, Mr.
Flaherty is responsible for governing Ontario’s $64 billion provincial
budget. In addition to overseeing the province’s fiscal and economic
policies he is responsible for the development of major tax statutes, the
regulation of Ontario’s financial institutions, the management of
SuperBuild, and the Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation.
In keeping with the annual tradition of the Canadian Club of Toronto and the
Empire Club of Canada, Minister Flaherty will speak at this joint luncheon
meeting the day after the presentation of his first provincial budget.