Eric Charles Fitzgerald Martin (September 15, 1905 – April 23, 1973) was an accountant, stock broker and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Vancouver-Burrard in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1966 as a Social Credit member.
Eric Charles Fitzgerald Martin | |
|---|---|
| MLA for Vancouver-Burrard | |
| In office 1952–1966 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 15, 1905 Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Died | April 23, 1973 (aged 67) Victoria, British Columbia |
| Political party | Social Credit Party of British Columbia |
He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba,[1] the son of John Fitzgerald Martin and Margaret Edith Goodday, and was educated in London, England and Victoria, British Columbia. In 1941, Martin married Margaret Boyd. He served as a sergeant-instructor in the Canadian Army during World War II.[1]
In 1945, Martin was an unsuccessful candidate in the federal riding of Vancouver Centre.[2]
He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the provincial assembly in 1945 and 1949 before being elected in 1952 in Vancouver-Burrard. He was only in second place in the first count. But BC used Instant runoff voting in that election and no candidate had a majority of votes in the first Count, so votes were transferred to produce a majority winner. Martin won in the end after some votes cast initially for Liberal and Progressive Conservative candidates were transferred to him, giving him a majority of votes still in play on the final count.[3]
Martin served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Health and Welfare and as Minister of Health Services and Hospital Insurance.[1]
He did not run for re-election in 1966.
He died in 1973.[4]
The Eric Martin Pavilion, formerly the Eric Martin Institute, of the Royal Jubilee Hospital was named in his honour.[5]