Gerry Martiniuk Explained

Gerry Martiniuk
Office:Ontario MPP
Term Start:June 8, 1995
Term End:October 6, 2011
Predecessor:Mike Farnan
Successor:Rob Leone
Constituency:Cambridge
Party:Progressive Conservative
Birth Date:5 August 1937
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Spouse:Christine Martiniuk
Children:4
Occupation:Lawyer

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.

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.

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.[8] [9]

On October 14, 2010, Martiniuk announced his decision not to run in 2011 election.[10]

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: In Memory of Gerry Martiniuk . Barthel Funeral Home . Cambridge, Ontario . May 2, 2017.
  2. News: Former Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk passes away . Lindsay . Grisebach . May 2, 2017 . 570 News.
  3. News: Former MPP Gerry Martiniuk fought for Cambridge causes . Jeff . Hicks . Waterloo Record . Metroland Media . May 2, 2017.
  4. Web site: Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate . https://archive.today/20140303212416/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=cambridge&flag=E&layout=G . dead . March 3, 2014 . Elections Ontario . June 8, 1995 . March 2, 2014 .
  5. Web site: Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate . Elections Ontario . June 3, 1999 . March 2, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502010156/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=cambridge&flag=E&layout=G . May 2, 2014 .
  6. News: Martiniuk named to two new posts . Kitchener Record . November 11, 1997 . B1.
  7. Web site: Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate . Elections Ontario . October 2, 2003 . March 2, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502010040/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=cambridge&flag=E&layout=G . May 2, 2014.
  8. Web site: Bill 155, Ukrainian Heritage Day Act, 2011 . . March 30, 2011.
  9. News: Ukrainian church ready to build an oasis of peace in Kitchener . Monteiro . Liz . Waterloo Region Record . October 22, 2011 . D7.
  10. News: Cambridge MPP Martiniuk won't seek re-election . Mercer . Greg . Cambridge Reporter . October 15, 2010 . 1.
  11. News: Former Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk has died. May 4, 2017. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 2, 2017.