Gerrie Hammond
Encyclopedia
Geraldine Rose Hammond was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1981 to 1990, and a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative
government of Gary Filmon
from 1988 to 1990.
Before entering provincial politics, Hammond served as a trustee on the St. James-Assiniboia School Division from 1977 to 1980. She was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1981
, defeating NDP
candidate Lee Monk by nearly 3000 votes in the west-Winnipeg riding
of Kirkfield Park. In the 1986 election
, she was re-elected by an even greater margin. The NDP won both of these elections, and Hammond sat as a member of the official opposition.
In the provincial election of 1988
, Hammond faced a strong challenge from Liberal
candidate Irene Friesen, retaining her seat by only 255 votes. The Progressive Conservatives were nonetheless able to form a minority government
after this election, and on April 21, 1989, Hammond was named as Minister of Labour, with responsibility for the Status of Women, the Civil Service Act, the Civil Service Superannuation Act, the Civil Service Special Supplementary Severance Benefit Act, the Public Servants Insurance Act and the Workers Compensation Act (in matters relating to Worker Advisers). Despite this mid-term cabinet promotion, Hammond did not seek re-election in 1990. She died in 1992.
There is currently a Gerrie Hammond Memorial Award of Promise offered by the Council of Women of Winnipeg in her honour, and a Gerrie Hammond bursary offered by the University of Manitoba
to single women in financial need.
As Minister of Labour, Hammond was accused by the opposition of patronage hiring outside of the province's Civil Service Act. She also supported ending the province's rules for "final offer selection", in which an independent mediator would decide between the claims of labour and management.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1981 to 1990, and a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
government of Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
from 1988 to 1990.
Before entering provincial politics, Hammond served as a trustee on the St. James-Assiniboia School Division from 1977 to 1980. She was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1981
Manitoba general election, 1981
The Manitoba general election of November 17, 1981 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the opposition New Democratic Party, which took 34 of 57 seats. The governing Progressive Conservative Party took the remaining 23, while the...
, defeating NDP
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
candidate Lee Monk by nearly 3000 votes in the west-Winnipeg riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Kirkfield Park. In the 1986 election
Manitoba general election, 1986
The Manitoba general election of March 18, 1986 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which took 30 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party won 26 seats and formed the official opposition...
, she was re-elected by an even greater margin. The NDP won both of these elections, and Hammond sat as a member of the official opposition.
In the provincial election of 1988
Manitoba general election, 1988
The Manitoba general election of April 26, 1988 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a minority government...
, Hammond faced a strong challenge from Liberal
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
candidate Irene Friesen, retaining her seat by only 255 votes. The Progressive Conservatives were nonetheless able to form a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
after this election, and on April 21, 1989, Hammond was named as Minister of Labour, with responsibility for the Status of Women, the Civil Service Act, the Civil Service Superannuation Act, the Civil Service Special Supplementary Severance Benefit Act, the Public Servants Insurance Act and the Workers Compensation Act (in matters relating to Worker Advisers). Despite this mid-term cabinet promotion, Hammond did not seek re-election in 1990. She died in 1992.
There is currently a Gerrie Hammond Memorial Award of Promise offered by the Council of Women of Winnipeg in her honour, and a Gerrie Hammond bursary offered by the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
to single women in financial need.
As Minister of Labour, Hammond was accused by the opposition of patronage hiring outside of the province's Civil Service Act. She also supported ending the province's rules for "final offer selection", in which an independent mediator would decide between the claims of labour and management.