Herb Gray
The Right Honourable Herb Gray PC, CC, QC, BComm, LLB, LLD(Hon) |
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![]() Gray in 2008
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Leader of the Opposition | |
In office February 8, 1990 – December 10, 1990 |
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Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | John Turner |
Succeeded by | Jean Chrétien |
Member of Parliament for Essex West | |
In office September 27, 1962 – June 24, 1968 |
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Preceded by | Norman Spencer |
Succeeded by | riding dissolved |
Member of Parliament for Windsor West | |
In office June 25, 1968 – January 14, 2002 |
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Preceded by | first member |
Succeeded by | Brian Masse |
7th Deputy Prime Minister of Canada | |
In office June 11, 1997 – January 14, 2002 |
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Prime Minister | Jean Chrétien |
Preceded by | Sheila Copps |
Succeeded by | John Manley |
Personal details | |
Born | Herbert Eser Gray May 25, 1931 Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
Died | April 21, 2014 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
(aged 82)
Political party | Liberal |
Spouse(s) | Sharon Sholzberg |
Children | Jonathan David Elizabeth Anne |
Residence | Ottawa, Ontario |
Alma mater | McGill University Osgoode Hall Law School |
Religion | Jewish |
Herbert Eser "Herb" Gray, PC CC QC (May 25, 1931 – April 21, 2014) was a Canadian Member of Parliament for four decades, and cabinet minister under three prime ministers, who served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1997 to 2002. He was Canada's first Jewish federal cabinet minister,[1] and is one of only a few Canadians ever granted the honorific The Right Honourable who was not so entitled by virtue of a position held.
Contents
Early life[edit]
Gray was born in Windsor, Ontario, the son of Fannie (née Lifitz), a nurse, and Harry Gray, who had a business selling yard goods. His parents were both from Belarusian Jewish families.[2] Gray attended Victoria School and Kennedy Collegiate Institute in Windsor[1] before receiving a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1952 from McGill University.[3] He then attended Osgoode Hall Law School where he received a Bachelor of Laws degree and was called to the bar becoming a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.[4] On July 23, 1967, Gray married lawyer Sharon Sholzberg, with whom he had two children: Jonathan David and Elizabeth Anne.[1]
Politics[edit]
He was first elected to Parliament for the riding of Essex West on June 18, 1962, as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. He was re-elected in twelve subsequent federal elections, making him the longest continuously-serving Member of Parliament in Canadian history.[5]
Gray served in a variety of roles during his parliamentary career, including cabinet ministries and committee chairmanships during the Liberal governments of Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau, and as Opposition House Leader from 1984 to 1990.
From February 6, 1990, to December 21, 1990, he was Leader of the Opposition, between the resignation of John Turner as Liberal leader and the election to Parliament of his successor, Jean Chrétien.
When the Liberals returned to power after the 1993 election, Gray was appointed Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada. On June 11, 1997, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister.
Gray also retained an interest in provincial politics in the Windsor area. In 1996, he was named as honorary co-chair of Dwight Duncan's bid to the lead the provincial Liberal Party. Duncan had previously worked in Gray's office.
Retirement and death[edit]
Gray retired from Parliament on January 14, 2002, and was appointed Canadian Chair of the International Joint Commission, a bilateral organization which deals with Canada-United States transboundary issues on water and air rights.
On November 28, 2008, Carleton University announced that Gray had been appointed as the university's 10th chancellor.[6] He died at a hospital in Ottawa on April 21, 2014, aged 82.[7]
Honours[edit]
On January 15, 2002, then-Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson granted Gray the title "The Right Honourable", in honour of his distinguished and record-setting contribution to Canadian political life. In 2003, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, a designation which can be bestowed on only 165 outstanding Canadians at any given time, in recognition of being "an enduring force in Canadian politics".[8] He was a recipient of the Canadian Centennial Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He received honorary degrees from the University of Windsor, Assumption University (Windsor), Catholic University of Lublin (Poland), McGill University, and the University of Ottawa, and Honorary Lifetime Membership as Governor #71 with Junior Chamber International Canada (JCI Canada).[1] In 2009, he became an honorary brother of Alpha Epsilon Pi.[9]
The upgraded Windsor-Essex Parkway has been renamed the Right Honourable Herb Gray Parkway.
Personal life[edit]
Gray was diagnosed with esophagus cancer in 1996 and recovered after radiation therapy. In 1999, he had an operation to treat a prostate condition unrelated to the cancer. In August 2001, Gray underwent valve replacement surgery to correct a heart condition he had known about for years.[7]
Electoral record[edit]
Essex West[edit]
Canadian federal election, 1962 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 18,152 | 45.55 | +11.25 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Norman L. Spencer | 11,018 | 27.65 | −18.10 | ||||
New Democratic | Bill Tepperman | 9,771 | 24.52 | +5.43 | ||||
Social Credit | Ray Gagnier | 649 | 1.63 | +0.77 | ||||
Co-operative Builders | Edgar-Bernard Charron | 261 | 0.65 | |||||
Total valid votes | 39,851 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1963 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 23,165 | 56.14 | +10.59 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Tom Brophey | 10,946 | 26.53 | −1.12 | ||||
New Democratic | Trevor Price | 6,267 | 15.19 | −9.33 | ||||
Social Credit | Ray Gagnier | 884 | 2.14 | +0.51 | ||||
Total valid votes | 41,262 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1965 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 21,525 | 56.12 | −0.02 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Austin Dixon | 10,298 | 26.85 | +0.22 | ||||
New Democratic | Hugh Peacock | 5,739 | 14.96 | −0.23 | ||||
Independent | Don Armstrong | 413 | 1.08 | |||||
Social Credit | Jack Backer | 379 | 0.99 | −1.15 | ||||
Total valid votes | 38,354 | 100.00 |
Windsor West[edit]
Canadian federal election, 1968 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 16,442 | 54.06 | |||||
New Democratic | Stuart Ross | 8,972 | 29.50 | |||||
Progressive Conservative | William J. Waldron | 5,002 | 16.45 | |||||
Total valid votes | 30,416 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1972 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 17,966 | 49.20 | −4.86 | ||||
New Democratic | Paul Forder | 13,110 | 35.90 | +6.40 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | John Gunning | 5,441 | 14.90 | −1.55 | ||||
Total valid votes | 36,517 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1974 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 19,474 | 55.97 | +6.77 | ||||
New Democratic | Ron Seale | 10,630 | 30.55 | −5.35 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Bill McKay | 4,466 | 12.84 | −2.06 | ||||
Marxist–Leninist | Ray Greig | 222 | 0.64 | |||||
Total valid votes | 34,792 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1979 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 16,943 | 48.56 | −7.41 | ||||
New Democratic | Maxine Jones | 11,906 | 34.12 | +3.57 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Bob Krause | 5,869 | 16.82 | +3.98 | ||||
Communist | Gerard O'Neill | 102 | 0.29 | |||||
Marxist–Leninist | M. Villamizar | 74 | 0.21 | −0.43 | ||||
Total valid votes | 34,894 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1980 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 19,755 | 58.50 | +9.94 | ||||
New Democratic | Maxine Jones | 9,785 | 28.98 | −4.14 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Ned Griffith | 4,107 | 12.16 | −4.66 | ||||
Communist | Gerard O'Neill | 72 | 0.21 | |||||
Marxist–Leninist | Margaret Villamizar | 49 | 0.15 | −0.06 | ||||
Total valid votes | 33,768 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1984 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 13,624 | 40.55 | −17.95 | ||||
New Democratic | Paul Forder | 11,503 | 34.23 | +5.25 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Marty Goldberg | 8,158 | 24.28 | +12.12 | ||||
Rhinoceros | Martin X. Deck | 232 | 0.69 | |||||
Communist | Mike Longmoore | 84 | 0.25 | +0.04 | ||||
Total valid votes | 33,601 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1988 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 23,796 | 56.24 | +15.69 | ||||
New Democratic | Paul Forder | 12,143 | 27.80 | −6.43 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Bert Silcox | 6,131 | 14.49 | −9.79 | ||||
Independent | Robert Cruise | 127 | 0.30 | |||||
Communist | Maggie Bizzell | 112 | 0.26 | |||||
Total valid votes | 42,309 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1993 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 27,008 | 73.00 | +16.76 | ||||
Reform | Brett Skinner | 4,179 | 11.30 | |||||
New Democratic | Emily Carasco | 3,359 | 9.08 | −18.72 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Dan Friesen | 1,663 | 4.49 | −10.00 | ||||
Green | Sarah Atkinson | 395 | 1.07 | |||||
Natural Law | Larry Decter | 138 | 0.37 | |||||
Independent | Bill Steptoe | 128 | 0.35 | |||||
Marxist–Leninist | Robert Cruise | 93 | 0.25 | −0.05 | ||||
Abolitionist | Rose Pope | 35 | 0.09 | |||||
Total valid votes | 36,998 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 1997 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 21,877 | 55.20 | −17.80 | ||||
New Democratic | Tom Milne | 9,411 | 23.74 | +14.66 | ||||
Reform | Jeff Watson | 5,295 | 13.36 | +2.06 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Dan Friesen | 2,452 | 6.19 | +1.70 | ||||
Green | Richard Warman | 398 | 1.00 | −0.07 | ||||
Marxist–Leninist | Robert Cruise | 199 | 0.50 | +0.25 | ||||
Total valid votes | 39,632 | 100.00 |
Canadian federal election, 2000 | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
Liberal | Herb Gray | 20,729 | 54.21 | −0.99 | ||||
Alliance | Jeff Watson | 8,777 | 22.95 | +9.59 | ||||
New Democratic | John McGinlay | 6,080 | 15.90 | −7.84 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Ian West | 2,116 | 5.53 | −0.66 | ||||
Independent | Christopher Soda | 304 | 0.80 | |||||
Marxist–Leninist | Enver Villamizar | 229 | 0.60 | +0.10 | ||||
Total valid votes | 38,235 | 100.00 |
Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Commissioners' Biography". International Joint Commission.
- ^ Plaut, Jonathan V. (2007). The Jews of Windsor, 1790-1990: A Historical Chronicle. Toronto: Dundurn. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-55002-706-8. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "McGill News - Spring '98".
- ^ "Member Contact Information". Law Society of Upper Canada.
- ^ Members of the House of Commons—1867 to Date—Continuous Years of Service. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved on December 6, 2006.
- ^ Carleton University Newsroom - The Right Honourable Herb Gray, P.C., C.C., Q.C. Named Carleton University Chancellor. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
- ^ a b "Herb Gray, former deputy prime minister, dies at 82". The Globe and Mail. April 21, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
- ^ Order of Canada citation
- ^ "Gray goes Greek". The Charlatan: Carleton's Independent Weekly. March 27, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Herb Gray. |
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Cabinet Posts (2) | ||
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Sheila Copps | Deputy Prime Minister of Canada 1997–2002 |
John Manley |
Doug Lewis | Solicitor General of Canada 1993–1997 |
Andy Scott |
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23rd Ministry – Cabinet of John Turner | ||
Cabinet Post (1) | ||
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cont'd from 22nd Min. | President of the Treasury Board 1984 |
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22nd Ministry – Second cabinet of Pierre Trudeau | ||
Cabinet Posts (3) | ||
Predecessor | Office | Successor |
Don Johnston | President of the Treasury Board 1982–1984 |
cont'd into 23rd Min. |
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Ed Lumley |
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20th Ministry – First cabinet of Pierre Trudeau | ||
Cabinet Posts (3) | ||
Predecessor | Office | Successor |
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' | Minister without Portfolio 1969–1970 |
' |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Sheila Copps |
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada 1997–2002 |
Succeeded by John Manley |
Academic offices | ||
Preceded by Marc Garneau |
Chancellor of Carleton University 2008–2011 |
Succeeded by Charles Chi |
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