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http://www.winnipegsun.com/2014/03/12/jon-gerrard-running-for-re-election

 Jon Gerrard running for re-election 15
Pallister could seek River Heights seat but Bokhari won't

By Joyanne Pursaga, Winnipeg Sun
First posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 07:13 PM CDT | Updated:
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 07:17 PM CDT

Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard celebrates his River Heights election win,
Oct. 4, 2011. (ROSS ROMANIUK/Winnipeg Sun)
  Article
     Change text size for the storyPrint this story Report an error

He may not be leading his party anymore, but Manitoba's only current
Liberal MLA will run for re-election.

Jon Gerrard, who was replaced by new leader Rana Bokhari in an October
leadership convention, announced Wednesday that he will run again in
River Heights in the next election.

"I'm enjoying serving the people of River Heights and the people of
Manitoba," said Gerrard. "I'm looking to stay on as long as people
would have me."

Gerrard said speculation that Progressive Conservative leader Brian
Pallister may run as a River Heights candidate in the next election
did not affect his decision on entering the race.

Bokhari said she's "excited" Gerrard's participation in the party will continue.

"Jon's been an amazing MLA for River Heights for a very long time. I'm
proud to have him on the team for the next go around," she said.

Bokhari said she's still deciding which seat she'll seek in the next
election, since she doesn't yet have her own. But the leader stressed
she wasn't planning to run in River Heights, despite the fact it's the
only riding in which the party currently holds a legislative seat.

The next provincial election is expected to take place in 2016, since
the NDP have passed legislation aimed to prevent it from overlapping
with a federal election campaign in 2015.

Based on 2011 election results, the Liberals may face a daunting
challenge to improve their fate in the next contest. In 2011, Manitoba
Liberals won just one seat and 7.5% of the vote.

joyanne.pursaga@sunmedia.ca




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Gerrard

Jon Gerrard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search The Honourable Doctor
Jon Gerrard
PC, MLA, BA, MD, PhD

Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
In office
October 18, 1998 – October 26, 2013
Preceded by Ginny Hasselfield
Succeeded by Rana Bokhari
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 21, 1999
Preceded by Mike Radcliffe
Constituency River Heights
Member of the House of Commons of Canada
In office
October 25, 1993 – June 2, 1997
Preceded by Felix Holtmann
Constituency Portage—Interlake
Personal details
Born (1947-10-13) October 13, 1947 (age 67)
Birmingham, England
Political party Manitoba Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
Alma mater University of Saskatchewan
McGill University
University of Minnesota

Jon Gerrard, PC, MLA (born October 13, 1947) is a politician and
medical doctor in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Member of Parliament (MP)
from 1993 to 1997, and was a secretary of state in the government of
Jean Chrétien. He has been the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
since 1998, and the member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for
River Heights since 1999.


Contents [hide]
1 Early life and private career
2 Government minister
3 Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
3.1 Elections
3.2 Issues
3.3 Other
4 External links
5 Table of offices held
6 Electoral record
7 Footnotes

Early life and private career[edit]Gerrard was born in Birmingham,
England, and grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He holds a Bachelor
of Arts in Economics from the University of Saskatchewan (1967), a
Doctor of Medicine degree from McGill University (1971), a Ph.D. from
the University of Minnesota (1976), and a Certificate in Pediatrics
from the American Academy of Pediatrics (1976).[1] He worked at
several prominent American institutions in the 1970s, and returned to
Canada in 1980 to accept a position as pediatrician at the Winnipeg
Children's Hospital.[2] Gerrard served as head of Pediatric
Hematology/Oncology at this hospital from 1985 to 1992, and taught at
the University of Manitoba from 1980 to 1993.[3] He has authored or
co-authored over 200 scientific publications, and became known during
the 1980s as an expert on the research and treatment of children's
cancer.[4][5] Gerrard has also been interested in bald eagles since
his teenaged years,
 and co-authored a book entitled The Bald Eagle: Haunts and Habits of
a Wilderness Monarch in 1988.[6]

Gerrard became active with the Liberal Party of Canada while working
on his undergraduate degree, impressed with Prime Minister Lester
Pearson's positions on social and international issues.[7] He was a
delegate to the Liberal Party's 1968 leadership convention, supporting
John Turner.[8] He later volunteered for the "Non" side in the 1980
Quebec Referendum, and became Liberal riding president for Lisgar in
1984. In 1990, he was Manitoba co-chair of Jean Chrétien's successful
bid for the Liberal Party leadership.[9]

Government minister[edit]Gerrard was elected to the Canadian House of
Commons in the 1993 federal election, defeating two-term Progressive
Conservative incumbent Felix Holtmann in the riding of
Portage—Interlake.[10] On November 4, 1993, he was appointed as
Secretary of State for Science, Research and Development. This was not
a full cabinet portfolio, but was instead affiliated with Industry
Canada.[11] Gerrard worked closely with Industry Minister John Manley,
and oversaw the development of such programs as Technology
Partnerships Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and the
Canada Research Chairs.[12]

Internet and communications strategies
Gerrard outlined the Chrétien government's strategy for the burgeoning
information highway in February 1994, as internet use increased
throughout the country. One of this strategy's goals was to "[put]
Canada in cyberspace", by creating a "national network of networks"
within the new media. Gerrard indicated that his plan would be
targeted toward creating jobs, reinforcing Canada's cultural identity,
and ensuring universal internet access at affordable rates.[13] He
officially launched an $80 million action plan on January 30, 1995,
providing funding for online applications in the fields of business,
research, health care and education.[14]

In March 1994, Gerrard described the internet as "very much a Liberal
technology in the sense that it is much more individual than
collective".[15] Speaking to an interviewer in 2007, he said that the
highlight of his political career was convincing the Chrétien
government to include a reference to the information highway in its
first throne speech.[16]

Gerrard's 1994 strategic statement on the information highway also
addressed the subject of industry mergers in the communications
sector. He indicated that the Chrétien government would "apply
pro-competition policies wherever [...] they make sense".,[17] and
added:

Traditionally, firms in telecommunications, broadcasting, cable and
information industries have operated in separate markets enjoying
neither competition nor collaboration. We now know this lack of
competition has caused us to fall behind the U.S. in the provision and
price of advanced telecommunications services.[18]
Science and technology strategies
In June 1994, Manley and Gerrard ordered a full review of federal
science and technology policy. This process had three aspects: an
internal review, an independent assessment from the National Advisory
Board on Science and Technology, and a series of consultations with
interested Canadians.[19] Gerrard personally supervised the review's
consultative sessions, and was appointed as vice-chairman of the
National Advisory Board.[20] The government's new strategy was issued
in March 1996, outlining new plans for funding and tax credits.[21]

The Chrétien government's approach to funding the science and
technology sectors was given mixed reviews. Some criticized the
government for cutting a number of research and science positions
during the recession of the early 1990s,[22] although at least one
technological journal credited it with maintaining research and
development incentives in the austerity budget of 1995.[23] Gerrard
himself was described a "passionate advocate" of research investment,
and as the driving force behind the government's National Technology
Investment Program of 1996.[24]

Additional duties
Gerrard was given additional responsibilities as Secretary of State
for Western Economic Diversification on January 25, 1996. He oversaw
the expansion of the Community Futures Development Corporation Network
throughout Western Canada, and worked with Foreign Affairs Minister
Lloyd Axworthy to ensure a secure transition of the Port of Churchill
rail line from Canadian National to OmniTRAX.[25]

Other
Gerrard voted in favour of the Chrétien government's national gun
registry program in late 1994, despite some personal reservations. The
registry was unpopular with many rural Manitobans, and Gerrard
remarked to John Manley soon after the vote that it would likely cost
him his seat in the next election.[25]

1997 election
The Portage—Interlake riding disappeared with redistribution before
the 1997 election. Gerrard ran in the new riding of Selkirk—Interlake,
and lost to Reform Party candidate Howard Hilstrom by 66 votes in a
very close three-way contest.[26]

Gerrard returned to his work at the Winnipeg Children's Hospital after
his defeat. He also became a Medical Research Council of Canada
scholar in residence at the University of Manitoba's medical school
and applied to become Dean of Medicine,[27] as well as returning to
his research work on bald eagles.[28]

Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party[edit]Gerrard returned to active
political life in 1998, as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.

After winning only three seats in the 1995 provincial election and
losing its official status in the legislature, the provincial Liberal
Party had nearly disintegrated in 1997 under the leadership of Ginny
Hasselfield.[29] She resigned in February 1998, and Gerrard declared
his candidacy to succeed her. Supported by former leader Sharon
Carstairs, he defeated the only other candidate, former Sagkeeng First
Nation chief Jerry Fontaine.[30]

Elections[edit]1999
Gerrard set modest goals for his party in the 1999 provincial
election, saying that the Liberals could win between ten and fifteen
seats to hold the balance of power in a minority government.[31] He
focused his attention on health care, and pledged that he would serve
as his own Minister of Health if elected as Premier.[32] He also
promised to appoint a health ombudsman, commit $25 million toward
repairing provincial infrastructure, provide $20 million for
post-secondary education, end provincial clawbacks of federal tax
credits for welfare recipients, and create a new Ministry of Digital
Economy and the Information Highway.[33]

The Liberal Party was unable to run a full electoral slate, fielding
candidates in only 50 of 57 divisions.[34] Gerrard tried to deflect
criticism by joking that he would "put his 50 Liberal candidates up
against 57 Tory and NDP candidates any day", but the failure to run a
full slate unquestionably damaged his party's prospects.[35]

On election day, Gerrard personally defeated incumbent Progressive
Conservative cabinet minister Mike Radcliffe in the upscale Winnipeg
division of River Heights, but the Liberals did not win any other
seats. The party's popular vote fell from 23% to 13%, as many former
Liberal voters shifted to the victorious New Democratic Party under
Gary Doer.[36]

Gerrard was the only Liberal member of the Manitoba legislature
between 1999 and 2003. He was not personally blamed for the party's
loss, and was reaffirmed as party leader in 2000.[37]

2003
Popular support for the Liberal Party increased after the 1999
election, reaching 24% in July 2001 and remaining in the low twenties
throughout 2002 and 2003.[38] The party entered the 2003 election in a
much improved position from four years earlier: their divisions were
largely resolved and their financial situation more secure, and they
were able to field a candidate in every division.[39]

Gerrard promised tax cuts for Manitobans under thirty and the
elimination of the province's payroll tax,[40] and committed to a
"health-care guarantee" wherein the government would fund
out-of-province health care if services could not be provided within
Manitoba.[41] He also promised to create an organization that would
integrate health services from different fields,[42] and to establish
community health centres for seniors.[43][44]

Liberal support declined in the final stage of the campaign,[45] and
the party ultimately polled a slightly lower percentage of votes
relative to its 1999 result. Gerrard was nevertheless returned without
difficulty in River Heights, and former Member of the Legislative
Assembly (MLA) Kevin Lamoureux gave the party a second seat by
retaking his old division of Inkster.[46]

2007
The Liberal Party's 2007 campaign was centred around five issues:
health care waiting lists, threatened emergency room closures in
Winnipeg, university funding, urban sprawl, and the environmental
state of Lake Winnipeg.[47] The Liberals also pledged to provide
immediate funding for rapid-transit in Winnipeg,[48] phase out the
provincial payroll tax while reducing property taxes by as much as
30%,[49] and introduce a new police unit to protect children from
sexual exploitation.[50] The party also stressed an environmentally
conscious image, purchasing carbon credits to run a carbon-neutral
campaign.[51]

Gerrard and Lamoureux were again returned to the legislature, but no
other Liberals were elected and the party's popular vote slipped again
to just under 12.5%.

Issues[edit]Health care
Gerrard has remained involved with health issues throughout his time
in the legislature. In 2001, he protested the Doer government's
decision to close an outpatient pharmacy at the Winnipeg Health
Sciences Centre by bringing several families of child cancer patients
to the legislature to confront the health minister.[52] He later
called for changes to Manitoba's adult heart surgery program, after
figures obtained through a freedom of information request showed an
increasing number of fatalities.[53]

Gerrard wrote a Winnipeg Free Press column criticizing the Doer
government for health-care delays in 2005,[54] and later argued that
personal health information should be made more easily accessible to
patients and their families.[55][56] He released a detailed document
promoting change in Manitoba's health system in September 2007,
highlighted by a call to make regional health authorities more
accountable to citizens.[57]

Agriculture and environment
Shortly after the 1999 election, Gerrard took part in an all-party
delegation to Ottawa to lobby the federal government for a cash
bailout for struggling western farmers.[58]

In early 2004, Gerrard wrote a guest column in the Winnipeg Free Press
calling on the federal government to test every beef and dairy cow
over thirty months for Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). This
recommendation was made during a significant decline in the Canadian
cattle market, after the discovery of a BSE-infected cow in Alberta
caused the United States to block all Canadian cattle.[59]

Also in 2004, Gerrard accused the Doer government of undermining its
water-quality legislation by reducing funds for key programs.[60]

Social issues
Gerrard holds liberal views on social issues. He pressured the Doer
government to legalize adoption rights for same-sex couples in
2001,[61] one year before a comprehensive bill including adoption
rights was passed by the legislature.[62]

Gerrard took part in the Winnipeg Harvest Poverty Challenge in late
2002, and attempted to live for a full week on only $20. The challenge
was meant to draw attention to the difficulties faced by Manitoba's
lowest-income residents, living on social assistance.[63]

In 2003, Gerrard supported calls for a provincial smoking ban in
workplaces and enclosed public spaces.[64]

Other
In early 2005, Gerrard wrote that the Doer government had not taken
proper steps to regulate the province's burgeoning internet
pharmaceutical industry. This industry was popular with American
customers, and Gerrard's column was written at a time when the federal
government was seeking to impose greater control over the sector.[65]

In April 2007, Gerrard introduced a private member's bill entitled the
Apology Act, to make apologies inadmissible in court as proof of
liability or guilt. The bill was modeled after similar legislation in
British Columbia, and was intended to allow medical professionals to
apologize to patients without risking legal charges.[66] It was passed
into law with government support in November 2007, and formally took
effect in February 2008.[67]

Gerrard has also called for a public inquiry into the New Democratic
Party government's alleged role in failing to prevent the financial
collapse of the Crocus Investment Fund.[68] Following the 2007
election, he took part in an all-party delegation to Ottawa to argue
for increased penalties against gang-related criminals and young car
thieves.[69] He has also called for a public review of appointees to
the Manitoba Hydro Board, and has requested a plebiscite on the
location of a power line from northern to southern Manitoba.[70]

In October 2007, he introduced a bill to ban retailers from using
plastic bags by 2009.[71] He also criticized the Doer government's
decision to build a Manitoba Hydro Power line on the west side of Lake
Winnipeg, and called for the public to be directly consulted on the
issue through non-binding referenda.[72]

He called for a provincial moratorium on taser use in 2007, following
increased concerns about its safety.[73]

Other[edit]Despite his background as a Chrétien supporter, Gerrard was
reported to have endorsed Paul Martin's bid for the federal Liberal
Party leadership in 2003.[74] He supported Gerard Kennedy's bid in
2006.[75]

Gerrard released a history of the Manitoba Liberal Party in 2006,
entitled Battling for a Better Manitoba.[76] A Winnipeg Free Press
reviewer described the book as "a generally readable—though
sloppy—account of one of the three provincial parties", adding that
the book "perhaps should not have been published in its current
state".[77]

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