Article

Elmer MacIntosh MacKay

Published Online February 13, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Elmer MacIntosh MacKay, politician (b at Hopewell, NS 5 Aug 1936). Educated at Acadia and Dalhousie, MacKay was called to the NS Bar in 1961 and practised law in Pictou County.

MacKay, Elmer MacIntosh

Elmer MacIntosh MacKay, politician (b at Hopewell, NS 5 Aug 1936). Educated at Acadia and Dalhousie, MacKay was called to the NS Bar in 1961 and practised law in Pictou County. Elected a Conservative MP for Central Nova in a 1971 by-election, he was a tenacious and vocal Commons critic of Liberal governments, taking particular aim at security questions. He was minister of regional economic expansion and the political minister for NS in the 1979-80 Joe CLARK government.

An early and prominent supporter of Brian MULRONEY'S successful campaign to become PC chief in 1983, he resigned his seat so that the new leader could run for Parliament. MacKay was re-elected in Central Nova in 1984 and served as solicitor general 1984-85, minister of national revenue 1985-88 and then Minister for both Public Works and the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency 1989-91, after which he was named Minister for Canada Mortgage and Housing. MacKay retired before the October 1993 general election.