Herbert Eser Gray (May 25, 1931 – April 21, 2014) was a Canadian lawyer who became a prominent federal politician. He was a
Liberal member of parliament for the
Windsor area over the course of four decades, from 1962 to 2002, making Gray one of the longest-serving members in Canadian history. He was a cabinet minister under three prime ministers and was the seventh
deputy prime minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...
from 1997 to 2002. Gray was Canada's first Jewish federal cabinet minister,
and he is one of the few Canadians granted the honorific ''
The Right Honourable
''The Right Honourable'' ( abbreviation: ''Rt Hon.'' or variations) is an honorific style traditionally applied to certain persons and collective bodies in the United Kingdom, the former British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The ter ...
'' who was not so entitled by virtue of a position held.
Early life and education
Gray was born in
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the south bank of the Detroit River directly across from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Geographically located within but administratively independent of Essex County, it is the southe ...
, 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.
Gray attended Victoria School and
Kennedy Collegiate Institute
Honourable W.C. Kennedy Collegiate is a secondary school (grades 9 through 12) located in central Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB). Mr. Berard is the current principal and Mr. Stefan A ...
in Windsor
before receiving a
Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1952 from
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Univer ...
. He studied at
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School, commonly shortened to Osgoode, is the law school of York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The law school is home to the Law Commission of Ontario, the Journal of Law and Social Policy, and the ''Osgoode Hall La ...
, where he received a
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Ch ...
degree and was called to the bar, becoming a member of the
Law Society of Upper Canada.
On July 23, 1967, Gray married Sharon Sholzberg, also a lawyer. They had two children together – Jonathan David and Elizabeth Anne.
Politics
Gray was first elected to
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
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.
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, during
John Turner's last four months as Liberal leader and the first few months of
Jean Chrétien's leadership, until the latter won a by-election to Parliament.
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 The Solicitor General of Canada was a position in the Canadian ministry from 1892 to 2005. The position was based on the Solicitor General in the British system and was originally designated as an officer to assist the Minister of Justice. It was ...
. On June 11, 1997, he was appointed
Deputy Prime Minister of Canada.
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
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 trans-boundary issues on water and air rights.
On November 28, 2008,
Carleton University
Carleton University is an English-language public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1942 as Carleton College, the institution originally operated as a private, non-denominational evening college to serve returning Wo ...
announced that Gray had been appointed as the university's 10th chancellor. He died in hospital in
Ottawa
Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the c ...
on April 21, 2014, aged 82.
Honours
On January 15, 2002, then-
Governor General of Canada
The governor general of Canada (french: gouverneure générale du Canada) is the federal viceregal representative of the . The is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but resides in oldest and most populous realm ...
Adrienne Clarkson granted Gray the title "
The Right Honourable
''The Right Honourable'' ( abbreviation: ''Rt Hon.'' or variations) is an honorific style traditionally applied to certain persons and collective bodies in the United Kingdom, the former British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The ter ...
", 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
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
, 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". He was a recipient of the
Canadian Centennial Medal, the
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (french: link=no, Médaille du jubilé d'argent de la reine Elizabeth II) is a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession in 1952. The medal is p ...
, the
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal,
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (french: link=no, Médaille du jubilé d'or de la Reine Elizabeth II) or the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...
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).
In 2009, he became an honorary brother of
Alpha Epsilon Pi.
The upgraded
Windsor-Essex Parkway has been renamed the Right Honourable Herb Gray Parkway.
Personal life
Gray was diagnosed with
esophageal 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.
Electoral record
Essex West
Windsor West
Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.
Archives
There is a Herb Gray
fonds at
Library and Archives Canada.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, Herb
1931 births
2014 deaths
Companions of the Order of Canada
Deputy Prime Ministers of Canada
Leaders of the Opposition (Canada)
Jewish Canadian politicians
Liberal Party of Canada MPs
McGill University Faculty of Management alumni
Members of the 20th Canadian Ministry
Members of the 22nd Canadian Ministry
Members of the 23rd Canadian Ministry
Members of the 26th Canadian Ministry
Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario
Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada
Lawyers in Ontario
Canadian King's Counsel
Politicians from Ottawa
Politicians from Windsor, Ontario
Solicitors General of Canada