Yesterday,IinformedthePrimeMinisterthatIamresigningfromCabinet.ThiswasadecisionI madewithmyfamilyearlierthisyear,asIwillbereturningtotheprivatesector. IamgratefultoPrimeMinisterStephenHarperforprovidingmewiththeopportunityand responsibilitytoserveCanadiansastheirMinisterofFinancesince2006,oneofthelongest servingFinanceMinistersinCanadianhistory.Asagovernment,weachievedgreatthingsfor CanadaandIcouldneverhaveaccomplishedwhatIhaveasFinanceMinisterwithoutthefull supportofPrimeMinisterHarper. AsIreflectonmyalmosttwodecadesinpolitics,Iamproudoftheaccomplishmentsofthe governmentsIwaspartof,provincialandfederal. InmytimeasFinanceMinister,IamproudoftheworkIhavedonetohelpmanagethedeepest economicchallengetofaceCanadasincethedepressionofthe1930sandensureCanada emergedstrongerandasarecognizedeconomicleaderontheinternationalstage. AlongwithmanagingCanadasperformanceduringtheglobaleconomiccrisis,Iampleasedour governmentbroughtforwardpositivemeasurestomakeCanadaoneoftheworldsbestplaces todobusiness.

ss.Iamproudtobepartofagovernmentthat: reducedCanadasbusinesstaxestothelowestlevelintheG7
reducedothertaxes160times introducedtheTaxFreeSavingsAccount(TFSA)andtheWorkingIncomeTaxBenefit

(WITB)
tookactiononfourseparateoccasionstoprotectCanadashousingmarketand tookhistoricalstepstostrengthenCanadassecuritiesregulationregime.

Ialsomadeitaprioritytohelpimprovethewellbeingofpeoplewithdisabilities.Ourgovernment hasworkedhardtoensureourcountrybenefitsfromthetalentsandabilitiesofCanadianswith disabilities.WeimprovedaccessibilitythroughtheEnablingAccessibilityFund,providednew investmentsforpeoplewithdisabilitiestojoinandcontributetotheworkforce,andhelped improveaccesstofinancialindependencethroughprogramssuchastheRegisteredDisabilities SavingsPlan(RDSP). MygoalwasalwaystogetCanadabackontracktoabalancedbudgetafterthelargedeficitwe agreedwasnecessaryinBudget2009tocombattheGreatRecessionandprotectCanadian jobs.AsoutlinedinBudget2014,Ifollowedthroughonthatcommitment.Thereisnodoubtthat Canadasbudgetwillbebalancedin2015.Canadasfiscalpositionistheenvyofthedeveloped world.AllCanadianscanbeproudofthecountrysperformance. Now,IwillfocusonlifebeyondpoliticsasIreturntotheprivatesector.IbelievethatIhave

servedmycountry,provinceandconstituentsofWhitbyOshawatothebestofmyabilitiesand thankthemfortheircontinuedtrustandsupportforalmosttwodecades.Ithasbeenanhonour toserveCanadianswiththePrimeMinister,CabinetandcaucuscolleaguesandallMembersof ParliamentintheHouseofCommons. Asmanyofyouknow,Ifacedahealthissueoverthispastyear.Ihavereceivedmuchsupport andgoodwishesfromCanadiansacrossthecountryandforthat,Iamthankful.Iamhappyto reportthatIamontheroadtoafullrecoveryandthedecisiontoleavepoliticswasnotrelatedin anywaytomyhealth.Thisdecisionwasmadebecauseitistherightoneformeandmyfamily atthistime. IwouldalsoliketothankallCanadianswhoexpressedtheirsupportandencouragementover myyearsinpublicservice.Ihaveoftensaidthatpublicserviceisanoblecallingandhave encouragedyoungpeople,includingmyownchildren,toconsideritasaworthycareerchoice.I believeacareerinthepublicserviceisthemostsatisfyingandpersonallyenrichingcareeryou willeverfind. IwanttothankmywifeChristineandourthreesonsfortheirunwaveringsupportduringmytime inpublicoffice.Iamluckytohavesuchawonderfulfamily. AsIbeginanotherchapterinmylife,Ileavefeelingfulfilledwithwhatwehaveaccomplishedasa governmentandacountryduringoneofthemostchallengingeconomicperiodsinourcountrys history. Weliveinthegreatestcountryintheworld,andIwantCanadianstoknowthatithasbeenmy honourandmyprivilegetoservethem. Thankyou. JimFlaherty