Herb Gray
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the football player, see Herb Gray (football player).
| The Right Honourable Herbert Eser Gray P.C., C.C., Q.C. |
|
|
|
|
| In office September 27, 1962 – June 24, 1968 |
|
| Preceded by | Norman Spencer |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | riding dissolved |
|
|
|
| In office June 25, 1968 – January 14, 2002 |
|
| Preceded by | first member |
| Succeeded by | Brian Masse |
|
|
|
| Born | May 25, 1931 Windsor, Ontario |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Sharon Sholzberg |
| Children | Jonathan David Elizabeth Anne |
| Residence | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Alma mater | McGill University Osgoode Hall Law School |
| Religion | Jewish |
Herbert Eser Gray, P.C., C.C., Q.C. (born May 25, 1931) is a retired Canadian politician. He was Canada's first Jewish cabinet minister [1], and is one of only a few Canadians ever granted the title The Right Honourable who was not so entitled by virtue of a position held.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Born in Windsor, Ontario, the son of Harry and Fannie Gray, Gray attended Victoria School and Kennedy Collegiate Institute in Windsor[1] before receiving a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1952 from McGill University[2]. He then attended Osgoode Hall Law School where he received a Bachelor of Laws degree. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.[3] On July 23, 1967, Gray married lawyer Sharon Sholzberg, with whom he has two children: Jonathan David and Elizabeth Anne.[1]
[edit] Politics
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.[4]
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. (Windsor Star, 26 June 1996) Duncan had previously worked in Gray's office.
[edit] Retirement
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.
[edit] Honours
On January 15, 2002 the Governor General of Canada 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".[5] He is a recipient of the Canadian Centennial Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. He has received honorary degrees from the University of Windsor, Assumption University (Windsor), Catholic University of Lublin (Poland), McGill University, and the University of Ottawa.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Commissioners' Biography. International Joint Commission.
- ^ 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 6 December 2006.
- ^ Order of Canada citation.
[edit] External links
| 26th Ministry - Government of Jean Chrétien | ||
| Cabinet Posts (2) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Sheila Copps | Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (1997–2002) |
John Manley |
| Doug Lewis | Solicitor General of Canada (1993–1997) |
Andy Scott |
| Special Cabinet Responsibilities | ||
| Predecessor | Title | Successor |
| Minister responsible for the Millennium Bureau of Canada (1998–2002) |
||
| Special Parliamentary Responsibilities | ||
| Predecessor | Title | Successor |
| Doug Lewis | Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (1993–1997) |
Don Boudria |
| 23rd Ministry - Government of John Turner | ||
| Cabinet Posts (1) | ||
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| cont'd from 22nd Min. | President of the Treasury Board (1984) |
Robert de Cotret |
| 22nd Ministry - Second Government of Pierre Trudeau | ||
| Cabinet Posts (3) | ||
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Don Johnston | President of the Treasury Board (1982–1984) |
cont'd into 23rd Min. |
| Pierre de Bané | Minister of Regional Economic Expansion (1982) |
Ed Lumley |
| Robert de Cotret | Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce (1980–1982) |
Ed Lumley |
| 20th Ministry - First Government of Pierre Trudeau | ||
| Cabinet Posts (3) | ||
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Bob Andras | Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs (1972–1976) |
André Ouellet |
| Jean-Pierre Côté | Minister of National Revenue (1970–1972) |
Robert Stanbury |
| Minister without Portfolio (1969–1970) |
||
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sheila Copps |
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada 1997-2002 |
Succeeded by John Manley |
| Preceded by John Turner |
Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons 1990 |
Succeeded by Jean Chrétien |
| Parliament of Canada | ||
| Preceded by Norman Spencer, PC |
Member of Parliament for Essex West 1962-1968 |
Succeeded by riding abolished in 1966 |
| Preceded by first member, riding created in 1966 |
Member of Parliament for Windsor West 1968-2002 |
Succeeded by Brian Masse, New Democrat |
| Preceded by N/A |
Dean of the House - Canadian House of Commons -2002 |
Succeeded by Charles Caccia |
|
|||||||
|
|||||
|
|||||||||||
