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 Minister	Brian Mulroney
Preceded by	George Hees
Succeeded by	Kim Campbell
Minister of State (Forestry and Mines)
In office 30 June 1986 – 14 September 1988
Prime Minister	Brian Mulroney
Minister	Marcel Masse
Preceded by	Himself (as Minister of State (Forestry)) Robert Layton (as Minister of State (Mines))
Succeeded by	Gerry St. Germain
Minister of State (Forestry)
In office 17 September 1984 – 29 June 1986
Prime Minister	Brian Mulroney
Minister	John Wise
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Himself (as Minister of State (Forestry and Mines))
New Brunswick Executive Council Minister of Natural Resources Government House Leader In office 30 October 1982 – 3 August 1984 Premier Richard Hatfield Preceded by Edwin G. Allen Succeeded by Malcolm MacLeod Minister of Commerce and Development In office 20 December 1976 – 30 October 1982 Premier Richard Hatfield Preceded by Lawrence Garvie (Economic Growth) Succeeded by Paul Dawson Minister of Education In office 3 December 1974 – 20 December 1976 Premier Richard Hatfield Preceded by J. Lorne McGuigan Succeeded by Charles Gallagher
Parliamentary constituencies Member of Parliament for Saint John In office 4 September 1984 – 25 October 1993 Preceded by Mike Landers Succeeded by Elsie 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 by Multi-member district Succeeded by Peter Trites
Personal details
Born	Gerald Stairs Merrithew ( 1931-09-23)23 September 1931 Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Died	5 September 2004(2004-09-05) (aged 72)
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse	Gloria McLean
Residence	Springfield, New Brunswick
Profession	Secondary 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 Conservative	Gerry Merrithew	16,798	43.1	-9.1
	Liberal	Joe Boyce	15,067	38.6	+13.1
	New Democratic	Judith Meinert	4,883	12.5	-8.7
	Confederation of Regions	Jim Webb	1,806	4.6	+4.6
	Libertarian	Thomas Gamblin	289	0.7	-0.1
	Independent	Gary Zatzman	162	0.4	+0.4
Total valid votes			39,005	100.0

1984 Canadian federal election: Saint John—Rothesay
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Gerry Merrithew	16,604	52.2	+13.2
	Liberal	Cliff Warner	8,109	25.5	-15.9
	New Democratic	Mary Palmer	6,752	21.2	+2.3
	Libertarian	Peter Jones	242	0.8	+0.6
	Social Credit	Gordon Simons	102	0.3	+0.3
Total valid votes			31,809	100.0

References

• Hansard, 1st Session, 38th Parliament, Volume 142, Issue 16
• Gerald Merrithew – Parliament of Canada biography
• Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick tribute to Gerald Merrithew