Gerry Martiniuk

Gerald Martiniuk, (August 5, 1937 – May 2, 2017) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2011 who represented the southern Ontario riding of Cambridge.

Gerry Martiniuk
Ontario MPP
In office
June 8, 1995 – October 6, 2011
Preceded byMike Farnan
Succeeded byRob Leone
ConstituencyCambridge
Personal details
Born(1937-08-05)August 5, 1937
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedMay 2, 2017(2017-05-02) (aged 79)
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Spouse(s)Christine Martiniuk
Children4
OccupationLawyer

Background

Martiniuk was born on August 5, 1937 in Toronto.[1] He was educated at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, University of Western Ontario, University of Toronto (Political Science and Economics) and Osgoode Hall Law School.[2][3]

Politics

Martiniuk began his career at the municipal level, serving as a school trustee on the Waterloo County Board of Education, an alderman in Preston, and chair of the Waterloo Regional Police Commission.[3]

In the 1995 provincial election, he was elected in the riding of Cambridge over incumbent New Democrat Mike Farnan.[4]

He was easily re-elected in the 1999 election, defeating Liberal Jerry Boyle by over 14,000 votes.[5] In 1998 he was appointed as Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General.[6]

The PCs were defeated in the provincial election of 2003, although Martiniuk was again re-elected, this time defeating Boyle by just over 3000 votes.[7] He served as opposition critic for several portfolios including Labour, Consumer and Business Services, Community and Social Services Critic and Seniors.[8]

In 2004, he supported John Tory's successful bid replace Ernie Eves as provincial PC leader. Martiniuk was again elected in the provincial election of 2007 with a plurality of 3243. He served as the critic for Revenue and Seniors. In 2008 he supported Tim Hudak's successful PC leadership bid. In 2011, he introduced the Ukrainian Heritage Bill which sets September 7 as Ukrainian Heritage Day in Ontario to mark the anniversary of the arrival of the first Ukrainian immigrants to Canada in 1891. The bill was passed on March 30, 2011.[9][10]

On October 14, 2010, Martiniuk announced his decision not to run in 2011 election.[8]

Affiliations

He was a director of the St. John Ambulance, Cambridge United Way, Preston-Hespeler Rotary Club, Trinity Community Table, Preston YMCA, Chair, Conestoga College Advisory Committee on Criminology before entering provincial politics, and served as president of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce.[2][3]

Personal life/death

He and his wife Christine raised four children.[3] He died in Cambridge, Ontario at the age of 79.[2][11]

Electoral record
2007 Ontario general election: Cambridge
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeGerry Martiniuk17,94241.70$69,486
LiberalKathryn McGarry14,70434.17–$58,836
New DemocraticMitchel Healey5,89613.70$11,877
GreenColin Carmichael3,8428.93–$3,988
Family CoalitionPaul Vandervet6461.50–$2,915
Total valid votes 43,030 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 303
Turnout 43,333 49.69
Electors on the lists 87,203

References
  1. "In Memory of Gerry Martiniuk". Cambridge, Ontario: Barthel Funeral Home. May 2, 2017.
  2. Grisebach, Lindsay (May 2, 2017). "Former Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk passes away". 570 News.
  3. Hicks, Jeff (May 2, 2017). "Former MPP Gerry Martiniuk fought for Cambridge causes". Waterloo Record. Metroland Media.
  4. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  5. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 3, 1999. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  6. "Martiniuk named to two new posts". Kitchener Record. November 11, 1997. p. B1.
  7. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  8. Mercer, Greg (October 15, 2010). "Cambridge MPP Martiniuk won't seek re-election". Cambridge Reporter. p. 1.
  9. "Bill 155, Ukrainian Heritage Day Act, 2011". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. March 30, 2011.
  10. Monteiro, Liz (October 22, 2011). "Ukrainian church ready to build an oasis of peace in Kitchener". Waterloo Region Record. p. D7.
  11. "Former Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk has died". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 2, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
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