Gerald Stairs "Gerry" Merrithew (23 September 1931 – 5 September 2004), born in

Saint John, New Brunswick Saint John () is a port#seaport, seaport city located on the Bay of Fundy in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It is Canada's oldest Municipal corporation, incorporated city, established by royal charter on May 18, 1785, during the reign ...

, Canada, was an educator, provincial and federal politician, and statesman. Merrithew graduated from the New Brunswick Teachers' College, then obtained his BA and B.Ed degrees from the

University of New Brunswick The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is a public university with two primary campuses in Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick. It is the oldest English language, English-language university in Canada, and among the oldest public universiti ...

. With a lifelong interest in the

Canadian Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...

, 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 An education minister (sometimes minister of education) is a position in the governments of some countries responsible for dealing with educational matters. Where known, the government department, ministry, or agency that develops policy and deli ...

then in 1976, Minister of Commerce & Development. After winning re-election again in 1978 and in 1982, he became the

Minister of Natural Resources The minister of energy and natural resources () is the minister of the Crown in the Cabinet of Canada, Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). In addition to NRCan, the minister oversees the federal government' ...

Government House Leader The Government House Leader, officially known as the leader of the Government in the House of Commons of Canada (), is the Cabinet minister responsible for planning and managing the government's legislative program in the House of Commons of ...

, and Deputy Premier.

Federal politics

Gerald Merrithew resigned his provincial seat to run as a

Progressive Conservative Party of Canada The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (PC; ) was a Centrism, centre to centre-right List of federal political parties in Canada, federal political party in Canada that existed from 1942 to 2003. From Canadian Confederation in 1867 unti ...

candidate for the Saint John riding in the

1984 Canadian federal election The 1984 Canadian federal election was held on September 4, 1984, to elect members to the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons of the 33rd Canadian Parliament, 33rd Parliament of Canada, following the dissolution of the House on July 9. ...

. Elected to the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada () is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of Ca ...

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

, and with his party winning the election, Merrithew was immediately appointed

Minister of State Minister of state is a designation for a government minister, with varying meanings in different jurisdictions. In a number of European countries, the title is given as an honorific conferring a higher rank, often bestowed upon senior minister ...

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 In Canada, the Regional Development Agencies (RDA) are the seven federal government agencies responsible for addressing key economic challenges and furthering economic development, diversification, and job creation specific to their respective re ...

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 Belleisle Bay is a fjord-like branch of the Saint John River (New Brunswick), Saint John River in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Species of fish common to the area include, among others: *Yellow perch *White perch *Smallmouth bass *Ameri ...

. Active with numerous Military and Veterans Associations, Merrithew was a member of the

Queen's Privy Council for Canada The King's Privy Council for Canada (), sometimes called His Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council (PC), is the full group of personal advisors to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs. Practically, ...

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 ().

Death

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

Electoral history

References

Hansard, 1st Session, 38th Parliament, Volume 142, Issue 16
*
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick tribute to Gerald Merrithew
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merrithew, Gerald 1931 births 2004 deaths Deaths from cancer in New Brunswick Members of the Executive Council of New Brunswick Members of the House of Commons of Canada from New Brunswick Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick MLAs Saint John, New Brunswick city councillors Heads of schools in Canada University of New Brunswick alumni Members of the 24th Canadian Ministry 20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Minister of veterans affairs of Canada