Gerald Merrithew
Encyclopedia
Gerald Stairs "Gerry" Merrithew, PC
, CD
(September 23, 1931 - September 5, 2004), born at Saint John, New Brunswick
, 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
. 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.
. 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
.
candidate for the Saint John riding
in the 1984 Canadian federal election
. Elected to the Canadian House of Commons
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
.
at the head of the Belleisle Bay
. Active with numerous Military and Veterans Associations, Gerald Stairs 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).
Gerald Merrithew died of cancer on September 5, 2004.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(September 23, 1931 - September 5, 2004), born at Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, was an educator, provincial and federal politician, and statesman.
Merrithew graduated from the New Brunswick Teachers' College, then obtained his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and B.Ed
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
degrees from the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
. With a lifelong interest in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed 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 Saint John City Council in 1971 he went into Provincial politics in 1972, winning a by-election for the Provincial Progressive Conservative PartyProgressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right political party in New Brunswick, Canada. It has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony...
. Re-elected to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
in 1974, he would be appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Education
Department of Education (New Brunswick)
The Department of Education is a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with the administration of the New Brunswick public education system...
then in 1976, Minister of Commerce & Development
Business New Brunswick
Business New Brunswick is a department in the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with stimulating economic prosperity and global competitiveness in the province....
. After winning re-election again in 1978 and in 1982, he became the Minister of Natural Resources
Department of Natural Resources (New Brunswick)
The Department of Natural Resources is a department in the Government of New Brunswick, Canada. It is responsible for management of the Province's forests including timber utilization, trail management, insect and disease protection including spruce budworm and gypsy moth, fire protection,...
,
Government House Leader
Government House Leader (New Brunswick)
The Government House Leader for the Province of New Brunswick, Canada is the provincial cabinet minister responsible for planning and managing the government's legislative program in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick...
, and Deputy Premier
Premier of New Brunswick
The Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
.
Federal politics
Gerald Merrithew resigned his provincial seat to run as a Progressive Conservative Party of CanadaProgressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
candidate for the Saint John riding
Saint John (electoral district)
Saint John is a federal electoral district in southern New Brunswick, Canada. With its predecessor ridings, St. John—Albert and Saint John—Lancaster, the area has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917...
in the 1984 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
. Elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in Ottawa, and with his party winning the election, Merrithew was immediately appointed Minister of State
Minister of state (Canada)
A Minister of State is a junior cabinet minister in the Canadian Cabinet, usually given specific responsibilities to assist a senior cabinet minister in a specific area....
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
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is the Canadian federal government agency responsible for helping to build economic capacity in the Atlantic Provinces by working with the people of the region – in their communities, through their institutions and with their local and provincial governments...
and Minister of Veterans Affairs
Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)
The Minister of Veterans Affairs is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet whose position was created in 1944. The Department of Veterans Affairs Canada was split from the Department of Pensions and National Health and was given the responsibility of administering benefits and pensions...
.
Retirement
In 1993 Merrithew resigned from Cabinet and did not seek re-election. He and his wife retired to their farm in Springfield, New BrunswickSpringfield, New Brunswick
Springfield is a Canadian parish in Kings County, New Brunswick.Its population in the 2006 Census was 1,572.-Delineation:Springfield Parish is defined in the Territorial Division Act as:...
at the head of the Belleisle Bay
Belleisle Bay
Belleisle Bay is a fjord-like branch of the St. John River in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.-Geography:The bay is oriented northeast from the river, which it joins at the head of Long Reach, just south of the village of Evandale...
. Active with numerous Military and Veterans Associations, Gerald Stairs Merrithew was a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
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).
Gerald Merrithew died of cancer on September 5, 2004.