Ron MacKinley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ronald "Ronnie" MacKinley is a Prince Edward Island Liberal politician, and a current member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island.
Before running for office, MacKinley worked as a farmer in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island. Apart from owning and operating his own personal farm, he co-owns MacKinley Brothers beef farm with his mother and his son. He is married, and has three children, and two grandchildren.
MacKinley has served as vice-chair of the Elliot River CIC; as a director of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture and of the P.E.I. Farm Centre. In addition to this, he is a former member of the Canadian Horticultural Council Labour Board and Uniform Legislation Board, as well as a former Queens County Chair for the P.E.I. Potato Producers' Association.
MacKinley has enjoyed a long political career, especially for a Canadian politician who has never served in Cabinet. He was first elected to represent the riding of North River-Rice Point in a 1985 by-election, and has served continuously ever since, for a career of more than 20 years. He is easily the longest-serving member of the current Legislature. In the 2003 election, MacKinley had the second-largest margin of victory, and was also one of only two MLAs to have a victory margin of over 1000 votes.
In the 2000 provincial election, MacKinley was the sole Liberal MLA elected, and also the only Opposition MLA. As a result of this, he served as Leader of the Opposition and de facto Liberal leader until 2003, when he was replaced in both capacities by Robert Ghiz. MacKinley is currently the Opposition Critic for Transportation and Public Works, Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture; he is also the Chairman of the important Public Accounts Committee of the legislature, which must always be chaired by a member of the Opposition.
| Preceded by Robert Lloyd George MacPhail, Progressive Conservative |
Councillor for 2nd Queens 1985–1996 |
Succeeded by district abolished |
| Preceded by district created |
MLA for North River-Rice Point 1996–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Keith Milligan |
Leader of the Opposition 2000–2003 |
Succeeded by Robert Ghiz |
| Preceded by Wayne Carew |
PEI Liberal Leader (interim) 2000–2003 |
Succeeded by Robert Ghiz |
