Jim Flaherty, a veteran of provincial and federal politics who steered the country’s economy as longtime finance minister has died.

Flaherty, who stepped aside just a few weeks ago after an eight-year run as finance minister, suffered a medical crisis at his downtown condominium in Ottawa.

His family issused a statement about his death, saying their “beloved husband and father passed away peacefully today in Ottawa.”

“We appreciate that he was so well supported in his public life by Canadians from coast to coast to coast and by his international colleagues,” the statement said.

The family asked for privacy.

The tragic news rocked Parliament Hill as the afternoon question period was suspended and MPs of all parties took turns consoling each other.

“I'm stunned and saddened by this news. A very decent, honourable man,” tweeted NDP MP Nathan Cullen.

Police and paramedics responded to the condo in the Byward Market for a medical call around 12.30 p.m. on Thursday.

Ottawa police spokesperson Carole Lavigne confirmed the death of unidentified male in the condo unit. The call came in as “no vital signs available.”

“It's a medical call. No foul play suspected. This is not considered a suspicious incident,” she said.

The Ontario Legislature also had a 20-minute recess now out of respect for Flaherty and his wife Christine Elliott, who serves as MPP, the Star’s Rob Benzie reports.

Elliott was at Queen’s Park Thursday morning but flew to Ottawa.

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Flaherty had been in ill health for some time though that was not cited as a reason for when stepped aside from cabinet earlier this year. On his final day in the post, he tweeted a picture of himself walking out his office door, hand raised in farewell.

“It has been an honour to serve Canada. Thank you for the opportunity,” Flaherty said in a tweet.