Jim Flaherty is the finance minister of the year for 2009, according to an influential European economic magazine.

Euromoney magazine presented the award to the federal finance minister on Tuesday in Turkey.

The magazine credited Flaherty with acting quickly in the face of the global recession, which hit Canada in October.

“While it’s an honour to receive this award, it’s really a testament to the perseverance of Canadians themselves throughout this global economic and financial crisis,” stated Flaherty. “It recognizes how Canadians built a sound economy and worked together to weather the global storm better than most other countries.”

Flaherty accepted the award following the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Istanbul, and a meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors.

IE