James Michael Flaherty, (December 30, 1949 – April 10, 2014) was Canada's federal Minister of Finance (2006–2014) and also a former provincial Minister of Finance for Ontario (2001–2002).
From 1995 until 2005, he was the Member of Provincial Parliament for Whitby—Ajax, and a member of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party caucus and unsuccessfully sought the leadership of the provincial party on two occasions.
Flaherty won the riding of Whitby—Oshawa in the federal election held January 23, 2006, as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada narrowly beating Liberal incumbent Judi Longfield.
He was re-elected in 2008 and 2011.
Flaherty's widow, Christine Elliott, is currently the Deputy Premier of Ontario.