About Peter MacKay:
Peter MacKay was the last leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Although Peter MacKay campaigned against a merger of the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance Party, in the end he was instrumental, with Alliance leader Stephen Harper, in merging the two parties to form the Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. Peter Mackay did not run for the leadership of the Conservative Party, but was chosen to be Deputy Leader.
With the election of a Conservative government in 2006, Peter MacKay was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. In August 2007 Peter MacKay became Minister of National Defence with continued responsibiities for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Birth:
September 27, 1965 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Education:
- BA - Acadia University
- LLB - Dalhousie University
Profession:
- Lawyer - criminal and family law
- Crown Attorney - Central Region Nova Scotia
Political Parties:
- Progressive Conservative Party 1997-2003
- Conservative Party of Canada 2003- present
Ridings (Electoral Districts):
- Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough 1997-2004
- Central Nova 2004 to present
Political Career of Peter MacKay:
- Peter Mackay was rirst elected to the House of Commons in 1997.
- He was Progressive Conservative Party House Leader from 1997 to 2002.
- Peter Mackay was elected Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 2003.
- In December 2003, Peter Mackay oversaw the merger of the Progressive Conservative Party with the Canadian Alliance Party to form the Conservative Party of Canada. Peter MacKay did not run for the leadership of the new Conservative Party, citing debts incurred in the leadership race for the Progressive Conservative Party.
- Peter MacKay was named Deputy Party Leader of the Conservative Party when Stephen Harper won the leadership race in March 2004.
- Peter Mackay was re-elected in the 2004 election, and renamed Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party.
- He also became Conservative Party critic for public safety and emergency preparedness in 2004.
- With the election of a Conservative government in 2006, Peter MacKay was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
- In the cabinet shuffle in August 2007, Peter MacKay was appointed Minister of National Defence with continued responsibilities for the for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
