Gerry Mercier

Who is Gerry Mercier?

Gerald Wayne Joseph "Gerry" Mercier is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1977 to 1988, and was a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative government of Sterling Lyon.

The son of Gerard Mercier, he was educated at St. Paul's College and the University of Manitoba Law School, and practiced as a lawyer before entering political life. He served on the Winnipeg City Council from 1971 to 1977, when he shifted to the provincial scene. On one occasion, he served as Chair of the city's Works and Operation Committee. In 1966, he married Merryl-Lee Wood.

In the 1977 provincial election, Mercier was elected in the central Winnipeg riding of Osborne over incumbent New Democrat Ian Turnbull by 96 votes. The Progressive Conservatives won a majority government in this election, and on October 24, 1977, Mercier was appointed Attorney General, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Urban Affairs. The latter two positions were merged as one ministry on October 20, 1978, and were separated again on November 15, 1979 when Mercier was named Urban Affairs minister and Government House Leader.