The federal government has created a website for Canadians from coast to coast to express their sympathies for the family of former Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
The online book of condolences for the Flaherty family was opened to the public on Saturday. All the messages left in the book will be printed and given to Flaherty's family, the government said in a statement released Saturday morning.
In addition to the online book, Canadians in the Ottawa region can sign a book of condolences that has been set up in the Hall of Honour in the House of Commons.
The books of condolences are part of the ongoing tributes to Flaherty, who died suddenly in Ottawa on Thursday at the age of 64.
The government has also announced that the Ontario MP and former cabinet minister will be honoured with a state funeral in Toronto on Wednesday. A Canadian finance minister has not received a state funeral since the 1930s.
In a statement Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Flaherty was an "extraordinary Minister of Finance who sacrificed an enormous amount in his years of service to Canada and to Canadians.
"He will be remembered with great affection and respect. Jim and his family remain in our thoughts and our prayers at this difficult time."
Flaherty's death comes just three weeks after he announced he was stepping down as finance minister, a position he had held since 2006. At the time, Flaherty said he was stepping down to return to the private sector.
Flaherty is survived by his wife, Ontario MPP and deputy leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives Christine Elliott, and their triplet sons John, Galen and Quinn.
