R. Peter MacKinnon, OC, QC, LL.M (born 1947) is a Canadian lawyer, legal academic and the current President of the University of Saskatchewan.
Born in Prince Edward Island, he received a BA from Dalhousie University, an LL.B from Queen's University and a LL.M from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Ontario Bar and Saskatchewan Bar. He was created a Queen's Counsel in 1990. He is married to Janice MacKinnon, a Canadian historian and former Minister of Finance for the Province of Saskatchewan. They have two children, Alan and William.
In 1975, he joined the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan as an Assistant Professor of Law. He became an Associate Professor in 1978 and a Professor in 1983. From 1979 to 1981, he was the Assistant Dean of Law and was the Dean of Law from 1988 to 1998. In 1999, he was appointed the eighth President of the University of Saskatchewan. On March 9, MacKinnon announced that he would be stepping down as President of the University of Saskatchewan, effective June 30, 2012.[1] He will be succeeded by Ilene Busch-Vishniac, currently provost and vice-president (academic) at McMaster University.[2]
From 2003 to 2005, he was the chairman of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the organization representing Canada's universities.
In 2006, it was reported that he was one of three "short list" candidates to be recommended to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada replacing the retired justice, John C. Major.[3]
In 2011, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to education and for his commitment to innovation and research excellence".[4]
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Ivany |
President of the University of Saskatchewan 1999– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |