Herb Gray

For the football player, see Herb Gray (Canadian football).

The Right Honourable Herb Gray P.C., C.C., Q.C.
Gray in 2008
Acting Leader of the Opposition
In office February 8, 1990 – December 10, 1990
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
Preceded by	Norman Spencer
Succeeded by	riding dissolved
Member of Parliament for Windsor West
In office June 25, 1968 – January 14, 2002
Preceded by	first member
Succeeded by	Brian Masse
7th Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
In office June 11, 1997 – January 14, 2002
Prime Minister	Jean Chrétien
Preceded by	Sheila Copps
Succeeded by	John Manley
Personal details
Born	May 25, 1931 (1931-05-25) Windsor, Ontario
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 Gray, PC, CC, QC (born May 25, 1931) is a retired Canadian politician. He was Canada's first Jewish federal cabinet minister, 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.

Early life

Born in Windsor, Ontario, the son of Harry and Fannie Gray, Gray attended Victoria School and Kennedy Collegiate Institute in Windsor before receiving a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1952 from McGill University. 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. On July 23, 1967, Gray married lawyer Sharon Sholzberg, with whom he has two children: Jonathan David and Elizabeth Anne.

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.

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.

Bronze statue by sculptor Christopher Rees in Windsor, Ontario.

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.

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.

On November 28, 2008, Carleton University announced that Gray had been appointed as the university's 10th chancellor.

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". 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, and Honorary Lifetime Membership as Governor #71 with Junior Chamber International Canada (JCI Canada).

External links

• Herb Gray - Parliament of Canada biography

26th Ministry – Cabinet 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 – Cabinet 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 cabinet 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 cabinet 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
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–present	Incumbent