Gerry O'Malley

For the Irish Gaelic footballer, see Gerry O'Malley (Gaelic footballer).

Gerry O'Malley
MLA for Halifax Needham
In office
1988–1998
Preceded byEdmund L. Morris
Succeeded byMaureen MacDonald
Personal details
Born
Gerald Joseph O'Malley

(1927-11-25)25 November 1927
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died16 November 2018(2018-11-16) (aged 90)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Marie Elizabeth Langan
​
​
(m. 1963)​
OccupationEducator

Gerald Joseph O'Malley (25 November 1927 – 16 November 2018) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Halifax Needham in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1988 to 1998, as a member of the Liberals.[1]

An avid educational advocate, O’Malley worked at Nova Scotia Community College as a principal before entering politics. He sat in the Nova Scotia Assembly for a decade and became the minister of supply and services and then minister of science and technology under the premier, John Savage.

Early life

O'Malley was born in Halifax in 1927 to Michael O'Malley and Mary Brackett.[2] He was educated at Saint Mary's University, originally wanting to be an electrician.[2][3] He was in the Royal Canadian Air Force, retiring in 1967.[4]

An avid educational advocate, O'Malley was a vocational teacher and later a principal at the Akerley campus of the Nova Scotia Community College in Halifax.[2][5]

Career

In 1980, O'Malley was elected to Halifax City Council, where he was deputy mayor in 1984.[3]

O'Malley entered provincial politics in the 1988 election, defeating New Democrat Maureen MacDonald by 776 votes in the Halifax Needham riding.[6] He was re-elected in the 1993 election, defeating his New Democrat opponent by 972 votes.[7] He served as a backbench member of John Savage's government until March 1995, when he was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Supply and Services.[8]

In March 1996, O'Malley was shuffled to minister of science and technology.[9] When Russell MacLellan was sworn-in as premier in July 1997, O'Malley was moved to minister of labour.[10]

O’Malley was moved to the labour portfolio, where he brought in safety training changes in the wake of the Westray mining disaster that resulted in 26 deaths.[5] During his time as minister of supply and services, O'Malley once faced public criticism and outcry when he was in Sydney to announce the plan to cap the tar ponds. Protesters forced him to cut short the event and he was escorted out of the room due to security concerns as the protests intensified.[11]

Despite indications he might retire, O'Malley ran for re-election in 1998,[12] but was defeated by New Democrat Maureen MacDonald by over 2,300 votes.[13]

Personal life

O'Malley married Marie Elizabeth Langan in 1963. They had four children. He continued to live in Nova Scotia until his death at his Halifax home on 16 November 2018, nine days before his 91st birthday.[5]

References

  1. ^ Canadian Almanac & Directory. Scobie & Balfour. 1995. pp. 4–155 – via Google Books.
    - "Electoral History for Halifax Needham". Nova Scotia Legislative Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary: Gerald Joseph O'Malley 2018". Nécrologie Canada. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Minister of the Department of Labour biography". Government of Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on 28 January 1998. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  4. ^ The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1989, pg. 851
  5. ^ a b c "Former N.S. Liberal cabinet minister Gerry O'Malley dies at age of 90". National Post. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1988" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. p. 89. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1993" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. p. 106. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Savage plays musical chairs with Cabinet, adds O'Malley". The Chronicle Herald. 21 March 1995.
  9. ^ "Premier announces cabinet realignment". Government of Nova Scotia. 22 March 1996. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
    - "Downe climbs cabinet ladder as new department boss". The Chronicle Herald. 23 March 1996.
  10. ^ "Premier MacLellan, new cabinet sworn in". Government of Nova Scotia. 18 July 1997. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
    - "MacLellan makeover". The Chronicle Herald. 19 July 1997. Archived from the original on 4 February 1998. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  11. ^ "Longtime Nova Scotia politician Gerald O'Malley dies". CBC News. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  12. ^ "O'Malley seeks nod in Halifax Needham". The Chronicle Herald. 19 February 1998. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  13. ^ "Election Returns, 1998 (Halifax Needham)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
    - "Grit veterans swept away by 'orange tide'". The Chronicle Herald. 25 March 1998. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005. Retrieved 22 November 2014.