Jim Flaherty, a fixture on the world financial stage who stepped down as Canada's finance minister last month, died on Thursday in Ottawa. He was 64.

His family announced his death without giving a cause. He was treated for a rare skin disease last year and was taking medicine that led to weight gain, but he said his decision to leave politics was not related to the condition. The police said they responded to a medical call at Mr. Flaherty's home shortly after noon.

Mr. Flaherty was the longest-serving finance minister among the Group of 7 leading industrial economies until he announced three weeks ago that he was returning to the private sector. He had been the only finance minister under Stephen Harper, who became prime minister in 2006.

Mr. Flaherty is credited with helping to get Canada back on track to a balanced budget after pumping stimulus money into the economy after the 2008 financial crisis. Canada's commodity-rich economy avoided the worst of the crisis and has fared better than other nations. The country experienced no mortgage meltdown or subprime crisis.

Mr. Flaherty spent almost 20 years in politics, including stints as minister of finance, attorney general and deputy premier at the provincial level in Ontario. He entered federal politics in 2006 after two unsuccessful bids to lead the Ontario Conservatives.

Born in Lachine, Quebec, Mr. Flaherty went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a law degree from York University's Osgoode Hall Law School.