Joe Ghiz
Encyclopedia
Joseph Atallah "Joe" Ghiz (January 27, 1945 - November 9, 1996) was the 27th Premier of Prince Edward Island
from 1986 to 1993, an educator of law and a justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island
. He was the father of Robert Ghiz
, the current Premier of Prince Edward Island. He was the first premier of a Canadian province to be of non-European descent, since followed by Ujjal Dosanjh
and his son Robert.
corner store owner, and Marguerite F. (McKarris). Ghiz was a graduate of Dalhousie
and Harvard
law schools and was a Charlottetown
lawyer before entering into politics. He became president of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
in 1977 and then party leader in 1981. His party lost the 1982 election but Ghiz was elected to the legislature
and became leader of the opposition
. He led the party to victory in 1986 with the Liberals gaining 20 seats to 11 for the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party
.
In January, 1988 Ghiz declared that Islanders would vote in a plebiscite on the question of a "fixed link
" to mainland Canada —probably the single most divisive topic in Prince Edward Island during the latter part of the 20th century. Ghiz later in life reported to have voted against the fixed link on his personal vote.
Ghiz supported the Meech Lake Accord
and opposed the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. His participation in both debates made him a national figure. His government was re-elected in 1989 winning 30 out of 32 seats; it is speculated that this was in reaction to the federal PC
government of Brian Mulroney
's decision to close CFB Summerside
. Ghiz's government subsequently accepted a $200 million funding agreement for highway construction in exchange for the provincial government allowing the federal Crown corporation CN Rail to abandon railway service in the province.
Premier Ghiz favoured concessions to Quebec
in constitutional negotiations and campaigned for the Charlottetown Accord
, resigning three months after the accord was defeated in a 1992 referendum.
Following his decision to leave politics, Ghiz served as dean
of his alma mater, the Dalhousie Law School
until 1995, when he was appointed to the PEI Supreme Court. Ghiz died of cancer
in 1996. Several weeks before his death, he was driven by construction personnel across the largest completed section of the Confederation Bridge
which had yet to be connected to the North American mainland.
His son Robert
, was sworn in as Premier of Prince Edward Island on 12 June 2007 (leader of the PEI Liberal Party since 2003). This has resulted in the second time in the history of Prince Edward Island that a father-son team both became premier; the other pair (also Liberal) being Thane Campbell (1936–1943) and his son Alexander B. Campbell (1966–1978).
Premier of Prince Edward Island
The Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
from 1986 to 1993, an educator of law and a justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island
Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island
The Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island is the top court in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island and the highest Court of Appeals in the province....
. He was the father of Robert Ghiz
Robert Ghiz
Robert Watson Joseph Ghiz, MLA is a Canadian politician who has been the 31st Premier of Prince Edward Island since 2007...
, the current Premier of Prince Edward Island. He was the first premier of a Canadian province to be of non-European descent, since followed by Ujjal Dosanjh
Ujjal Dosanjh
Ujjal Dev Singh Dosanjh, PC, QC, is a Sikh Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as 33rd Premier of British Columbia from 2000 to 2001 and as a Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011 including a stint as Minister of Health from 2004 until 2006 when the party lost...
and his son Robert.
Life and career
Ghiz was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to Atallah Joseph Ghiz, a LebaneseLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
corner store owner, and Marguerite F. (McKarris). Ghiz was a graduate of Dalhousie
Dalhousie Law School
The Schulich School of Law is part of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Formerly called Dalhousie Law School, it was established in 1883, making it the oldest university-affiliated common law school in the Commonwealth. It is the primary law school in Atlantic Canada and...
and Harvard
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
law schools and was a Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
lawyer before entering into politics. He became president of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
The Prince Edward Island Liberal Party is a major political party in the province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The PEI Liberals are aligned with the federal Liberal Party of Canada. The party is led by Robert Ghiz, a former member of the staff of the Prime Minister's Office under Prime Minister...
in 1977 and then party leader in 1981. His party lost the 1982 election but Ghiz was elected to the legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
and became leader of the opposition
Leader of the Opposition (PEI)
The Leader of the Opposition in Prince Edward Island is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island.This list is incomplete...
. He led the party to victory in 1986 with the Liberals gaining 20 seats to 11 for the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party
Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party
The Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island is one of two major political parties on Prince Edward Island. It and its rival, the Liberals have alternated in power since responsible government was granted in 1851 and are the only two parties represented in the PEI Legislative...
.
In January, 1988 Ghiz declared that Islanders would vote in a plebiscite on the question of a "fixed link
Confederation Bridge
The Confederation Bridge is a bridge spanning the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait, linking Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick, Canada. It was commonly referred to as the "Fixed Link" by residents of Prince Edward Island prior to its official naming. Construction took place...
" to mainland Canada —probably the single most divisive topic in Prince Edward Island during the latter part of the 20th century. Ghiz later in life reported to have voted against the fixed link on his personal vote.
Ghiz supported the Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
and opposed the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. His participation in both debates made him a national figure. His government was re-elected in 1989 winning 30 out of 32 seats; it is speculated that this was in reaction to the federal PC
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
government of Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
's decision to close CFB Summerside
CFB Summerside
Canadian Forces Base Summerside was an air force base located in St. Eleanors, Prince Edward Island, Canada, now part of the city of Summerside.-RCAF Station Summerside:...
. Ghiz's government subsequently accepted a $200 million funding agreement for highway construction in exchange for the provincial government allowing the federal Crown corporation CN Rail to abandon railway service in the province.
Premier Ghiz favoured concessions to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in constitutional negotiations and campaigned for the Charlottetown Accord
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
, resigning three months after the accord was defeated in a 1992 referendum.
Following his decision to leave politics, Ghiz served as dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of his alma mater, the Dalhousie Law School
Dalhousie Law School
The Schulich School of Law is part of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Formerly called Dalhousie Law School, it was established in 1883, making it the oldest university-affiliated common law school in the Commonwealth. It is the primary law school in Atlantic Canada and...
until 1995, when he was appointed to the PEI Supreme Court. Ghiz died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1996. Several weeks before his death, he was driven by construction personnel across the largest completed section of the Confederation Bridge
Confederation Bridge
The Confederation Bridge is a bridge spanning the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait, linking Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick, Canada. It was commonly referred to as the "Fixed Link" by residents of Prince Edward Island prior to its official naming. Construction took place...
which had yet to be connected to the North American mainland.
His son Robert
Robert Ghiz
Robert Watson Joseph Ghiz, MLA is a Canadian politician who has been the 31st Premier of Prince Edward Island since 2007...
, was sworn in as Premier of Prince Edward Island on 12 June 2007 (leader of the PEI Liberal Party since 2003). This has resulted in the second time in the history of Prince Edward Island that a father-son team both became premier; the other pair (also Liberal) being Thane Campbell (1936–1943) and his son Alexander B. Campbell (1966–1978).