Jon Gerrard

Jon Gerrard (born October 13, 1947) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Saskatchewan (1967), a Doctor of Medicine degree from McGill University (1971), a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Minnesota (1976), and a Certificate in Pediatrics from the American Academy of Pediatrics (1976).

He was a delegate to the Liberal Party's 1968 leadership convention, supporting John Turner.

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.

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.

He later volunteered for the "Non" side in the 1980 Quebec referendum, and became Liberal riding president for Lisgar in 1984.

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.

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.

He has been studying eagles at Besnard Lake in Saskatchewan for 50 years.

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.

In 1990, he was Manitoba co-chair of Jean Chrétien's successful bid for the Liberal Party leadership.

Some criticized the government for cutting a number of research and science positions during the recession of the early 1990s, although at least one technological journal credited it with maintaining research and development incentives in the austerity budget of 1995.

He was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1993 to 1997, and was a secretary of state in the government of Jean Chrétien.

Gerrard was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1993 federal election, defeating two-term Progressive Conservative incumbent Felix Holtmann in the riding of Portage—Interlake.

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.

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.

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.

In March 1994, Gerrard described the internet as "very much a Liberal technology in the sense that it is much more individual than collective".

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" 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."

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.

Gerrard personally supervised the review's consultative sessions, and was appointed as vice-chairman of the National Advisory Board.

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.

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.

The government's new strategy was issued in March 1996, outlining new plans for funding and tax credits.

The Chrétien government's approach to funding the science and technology sectors was given mixed reviews.

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.

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.

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.

He was the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party from 1998 until 2013, and the member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for River Heights from 1999 until his defeat in 2023.

Gerrard was born in Birmingham, England, and grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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.