Gerald Merrithew

Gerald Stairs "Gerry" Merrithew PC CD (23 September 1931 – 5 September 2004), born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, was an educator, provincial and federal politician, and statesman.

The Honourable
Gerald Merrithew
PC CD
Minister of Veterans Affairs
In office
15 September 1988 – 4 January 1993
Prime MinisterBrian Mulroney
Preceded byGeorge Hees
Succeeded byKim Campbell
Minister of State (Forestry and Mines)
In office
30 June 1986 – 14 September 1988
Prime MinisterBrian Mulroney
MinisterMarcel Masse
Preceded byHimself (as Minister of State (Forestry))
Robert Layton (as Minister of State (Mines))
Succeeded byGerry St. Germain
Minister of State (Forestry)
In office
17 September 1984 – 29 June 1986
Prime MinisterBrian Mulroney
MinisterJohn Wise
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byHimself (as Minister of State (Forestry and Mines))
Minister of Natural Resources
Government House Leader
In office
30 October 1982 – 3 August 1984
PremierRichard Hatfield
Preceded byEdwin G. Allen
Succeeded byMalcolm MacLeod
Minister of Commerce and Development
In office
20 December 1976 – 30 October 1982
PremierRichard Hatfield
Preceded byLawrence Garvie (Economic Growth)
Succeeded byPaul Dawson
Minister of Education
In office
3 December 1974 – 20 December 1976
PremierRichard Hatfield
Preceded byJ. Lorne McGuigan
Succeeded byCharles Gallagher
Parliamentary constituencies
Member of Parliament
for Saint John
In office
4 September 1984 – 25 October 1993
Preceded byMike Landers
Succeeded byElsie Wayne
Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
for East Saint John
(Saint John East; 1972–1974)
In office
11 December 1972 – July 1984
Preceded byMulti-member district
Succeeded byPeter Trites
Personal details
Born
Gerald Stairs Merrithew

( 1931-09-23)23 September 1931
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Died5 September 2004(2004-09-05) (aged 72)
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseGloria McLean
ResidenceSpringfield, New Brunswick
ProfessionSecondary school Principal

Merrithew graduated from the New Brunswick Teachers' College, then obtained his BA and B.Ed degrees from the University of New Brunswick.

With a lifelong interest in the Canadian Forces, he became an officer cadet and rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. As a high school principal, he was active not only in the educational field, but the military, recreational fields, as well as cultural affairs that led to his entering politics.

Provincial politics

First elected to the Saint John City Council in 1971 he went into provincial politics in 1972, winning a by-election for the Provincial Progressive Conservative Party. Re-elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1974, he would be appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Education then in 1976, Minister of Commerce & Development. After winning re-election again in 1978 and in 1982, he became the Minister of Natural Resources, Government House Leader, and Deputy Premier.

Federal politics

Gerald Merrithew resigned his provincial seat to run as a Progressive Conservative Party of Canada candidate for the Saint John riding in the 1984 Canadian federal election. Elected to the House of Commons of Canada in Ottawa, and with his party winning the election, Merrithew was immediately appointed Minister of State for Forestry then in 1986 to Forestry & Mines. After winning his seventh consecutive election in 1988, he was appointed Minister for the purpose of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister of Veterans Affairs.

Retirement

In 1993, Merrithew resigned from Cabinet and did not seek re-election. He and his wife retired to their farm in Springfield, New Brunswick at the head of the Belleisle Bay.

Active with numerous Military and Veterans Associations, Merrithew was a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and also held several directorships including the "26th Battalion Overseas Association Inc." where in 1995 he was instrumental in publishing the history of the Battalion by S. Douglas MacGowan (ISBN 1896270026).

Death

Gerald Merrithew died of cancer on 5 September 2004, aged 72.

Electoral history
1988 Canadian federal election: Saint John—Rothesay
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGerry Merrithew16,79843.1-9.1
LiberalJoe Boyce15,06738.6+13.1
New DemocraticJudith Meinert4,88312.5-8.7
Confederation of RegionsJim Webb1,8064.6+4.6
LibertarianThomas Gamblin2890.7-0.1
IndependentGary Zatzman1620.4+0.4
Total valid votes 39,005100.0
1984 Canadian federal election: Saint John—Rothesay
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGerry Merrithew16,60452.2+13.2
LiberalCliff Warner8,10925.5-15.9
New DemocraticMary Palmer6,75221.2+2.3
LibertarianPeter Jones2420.8+0.6
Social CreditGordon Simons1020.3+0.3
Total valid votes 31,809100.0

References
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