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Today in Canada’s Political History: Herb Gray makes history with his appointment to cabinet

  • Arthur Milnes

  • October 20, 2022

Windsor, Ontario MP Herb Gray entered the history books on this day in 1969 with his appointment to Pierre Trudeau's federal cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio.  In taking up his new responsibilities, Mr. Gray became the first Jewish Canadian to serve in the federal cabinet.  Over his lengthy and distinguished career, he served under three prime ministers (Trudeau, Turner and Chrétien) in a range of roles, including: minister of national revenue; minister of consumer and corporate affairs; minister of industry; Government house leader; solicitor general; and deputy prime minister.  He also served as Opposition house leader from 1984 to 1990 and later as Deputy Prime Minister (under Jean Chrétien).

Herb Gray was first elected to the Commons in June 1962 (representing Essex West, later recreated as Windsor West). He ended his political career in 2002 as the longest continuously-serving Member of Parliament in Canadian history, having been elected in 13 consecutive federal elections.  Popular in his riding, Gray took over 50% of the vote in 9 of the 13 elections and never garnered less than 40% of the vote.  The riding, long considered a Liberal stronghold, has been represented by the NDP since Herb Gray's retirement.In 2002, he was bestowed the title "The Right Honourable" in recognition of his distinguished contribution to Canadian political life.  He passed into history in 2014.caption id="attachment_1109474" align="alignleft" width="204" Herb Gray and Pierre Trudeau/captionArthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist.  He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy.  A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.

Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.