View source for Peter MacKay

{{short description|Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1965)}}
{{for|other people with the same or similar names|Peter McKay (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|KC|size=100%}}
| image               = Peter MacKay 2014 (3x4 cropped).jpg
| alt                 = 
| caption             = MacKay in 2014
| office              = [[Minister of Justice (Canada)|Minister of Justice<br />Attorney General of Canada]]
| primeminister       = [[Stephen Harper]]
| term_start          = July 15, 2013
| term_end            = November 4, 2015
| predecessor         = [[Rob Nicholson]]
| successor           = [[Jody Wilson-Raybould]]
<!-- Defence -->| office1             = [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|Minister of National Defence]]
| primeminister1      = [[Stephen Harper]]
| term_start1         = August 14, 2007
| term_end1           = July 15, 2013
| predecessor1        = [[Gordon O'Connor]]
| successor1          = [[Rob Nicholson]]
<!-- Foreign Affairs -->| office2             = [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| primeminister2      = [[Stephen Harper]]
| term_start2         = February 6, 2006
| term_end2           = August 14, 2007
| predecessor2        = [[Pierre Pettigrew]]
| successor2          = [[Maxime Bernier]]
<!-- MOACOA -->| office3             = [[Minister for the purposes of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Act|Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]]
| primeminister3      = [[Stephen Harper]]
| term_start3         = February 6, 2006
| term_end3           = January 19, 2010
| predecessor3        = [[Joe McGuire]]
| successor3          = [[Keith Ashfield]]
<!-- Deputy Conservative Leader -->| office4             = Deputy Leader of the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]]
| leader4             = [[Stephen Harper]]
| term_start4         = March 22, 2004
| term_end4           = November 5, 2015
| predecessor4        = ''Position established''
| successor4          = [[Denis Lebel]]
<!-- PC Leader -->| office5             = Leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]]
| term_start5         = May 31, 2003
| term_end5           = December 7, 2003
| predecessor5        = [[Joe Clark]]
| successor5          = ''Position abolished''
<!-- MP -->| riding6             = [[Central Nova]]<br />{{small|([[Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough]]; 1997–2004)}}
| parliament6         = Canadian
| term_start6         = June 2, 1997
| term_end6           = October 19, 2015
| predecessor6        = [[Roseanne Skoke]]
| successor6          = [[Sean Fraser (politician)|Sean Fraser]]
<!-- Personal Info -->| birth_name          = Peter Gordon MacKay
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1965|9|27|mf=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[New Glasgow, Nova Scotia]], Canada
| occupation          = {{hlist|Politician|[[Crown attorney]]|lawyer|diplomat}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Nazanin Afshin-Jam]]|January 4, 2012}}
| children            = 3
| father              = [[Elmer MacKay]]
| mother              = Macha MacKay<ref>{{cite web |title =Peter's Story |url =https://www.petermackay.ca/about |website =PeterMacKay.ca |publisher =Peter MacKay |access-date =29 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title =Eirene Violet Macha Doon MacKay (Delap) |url =https://serenityfuneralhome.ca/tribute/details/4822/Eirene-Violet-MacKay-Delap/obituary.html#content-start |website =SerenityFuneralHome.ca |publisher =Serenity Funeral Home |access-date =29 August 2020}}</ref>
| residence           = [[Pictou County]], [[Nova Scotia]]
| otherparty          = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] (1997–2003)
| party               = [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] (since 2003)
| alma_mater          = {{unbulleted list|[[Acadia University]] (transferred)|[[Carleton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[Dalhousie University]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])}}
}}

'''Peter Gordon MacKay''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|KC}} (born September 27, 1965), a Canadian lawyer and politician, served as [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] from 1997 to 2015 and as [[Minister of Justice (Canada)|Minister of Justice and Attorney General]] (2013–2015), [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|Minister of National Defence]] (2007–2013), and [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] (2006–2007) in the [[Cabinet of Canada]] under [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Stephen Harper]]. MacKay became the final leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]] {{--}} he agreed to merge the party with Stephen Harper's [[Canadian Alliance]] in 2003, forming the [[Conservative Party of Canada]] and making MacKay one of the co-founders of the current conservative wing of Canadian politics.

The son of Canadian politician and Minister of Public Works [[Elmer MacKay]], MacKay received his undergraduate degree from Acadia University and his law degree from [[Dalhousie University]]. MacKay represented the [[Electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough]] from 1997 to 2004, and the riding of [[Central Nova]] from 2004 until 2015, when he decided not to run in [[2015 Canadian federal election|that year's federal election]]. With the defeat of the Conservatives in the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]], he was considered a potential candidate to succeed [[Stephen Harper]] as permanent leader of the party. Between 2015 and 2020, he was a partner with [[Baker McKenzie]] at their Toronto office.

On January 15, 2020, MacKay announced his candidacy for the [[2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2020 Conservative leadership race]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/PeterMacKay/status/1217527351518679042 |title=I'm in. Stay tuned. |last=MacKay |first=Peter |date=2020-01-15 |website=@PeterMacKay |language=en |access-date=2020-03-03}}</ref> He was defeated by former [[Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)|veterans-affairs minister]] [[Erin O'Toole|Erin O’Toole]] on the third ballot of the election.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/24003224/6a2fd06b9518d0a.pdf |title=RCV Short Report |date=August 24, 2020 |access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref> Following the race, he moved back to [[Nova Scotia]] and became a senior counsel with the law firm [[McInnes Cooper]] and a strategic advisor with [[Deloitte|Deloitte Canada]].

==Early life and career==
MacKay was born in [[New Glasgow, Nova Scotia]]. His father, [[Elmer MacKay]], is a former PC cabinet minister, lumber businessman, and lawyer. His mother, Eirene Macha MacKay (née Delap; 1938–2017), was a [[psychologist]] and peace activist; through her, Peter MacKay is descended from [[James Alexander, 3rd Earl of Caledon]] and [[James Grimston, 1st Earl of Verulam]].<ref>{{cite web |author=John DeMont |author-link=John DeMont |url=http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20030526_59817_59817 |title=THE ROAD TO RELEVANCE &#124; Macleans.ca&nbsp;— Canada&nbsp;— Features |publisher=Macleans.ca |date=May 26, 2003 |access-date=May 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807100144/http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20030526_59817_59817 |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ottawa |first=The |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=1f41e020-a6e7-4313-bfe9-955b2017c2a3 |title=Royal Navy Cmdr. Bredin Delap is the father of Peter MacKay's mother, Macha |publisher=Canada.com |date=June 16, 2008 |access-date=May 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108205319/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=1f41e020-a6e7-4313-bfe9-955b2017c2a3 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name=parlg1>{{cite book|last=Normandin|first=A.L.|author2=Pierre G. Normandin|title=The Canadian parliamentary guide|publisher=Normandin|year=1974|page=285|quote=M. July 15, 1961 to dau. of Commander Bradin Delap of Centreville, Kings County, NS; Four children: Cethlyn Laura, Peter Gordon, Sheila Mary Louise and Andrew.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6m4-AQAAIAAJ&q=Eirene+Macha+Delap|title = Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage|year = 1985|isbn = 9780333378243|last1 = Montague-Smith|first1 = Patrick W.| publisher=Debrett's Peerage Limited }}</ref> MacKay grew up in [[Wolfville|Wolfville, Nova Scotia]] with his three siblings. He graduated from [[Horton High School (Nova Scotia)|Horton High School]] in [[Greenwich, Nova Scotia]], and then went on to graduate with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from [[Acadia University]]/[[Carleton University]] in 1987. MacKay then studied law at [[Dalhousie University]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.petermackay.ca/meet_peter.php |title=Peter MacKay ~ Representing Central Nova |publisher=Petermackay.ca |access-date=May 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620052956/http://petermackay.ca/meet_peter.php |archive-date=June 20, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 1991. He worked for [[ThyssenKrupp|Thyssen Henschel]], a steel producer, in [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]], and in [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Kassel]], Germany.

In 1993, MacKay accepted an appointment as [[Crown Attorney]] for the Central Region of Nova Scotia. He prosecuted cases at all levels, including youth and provincial courts as well as the [[Supreme Court of Canada]]. MacKay has publicly stated that the major impetus for his entry into federal politics was his frustrations with the shortcomings in the [[Law of Canada|justice system]], particularly his perception that the courts do not care about the impact crime has on victims.

==Member of Parliament==
MacKay was first elected to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] in the June 2, [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997 federal election]] for [[Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough]], a [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]] in northeastern Nova Scotia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/97archive/jun3/970603102.html|title=MacKay carries on family tradition|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=June 3, 1997|access-date=September 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011130174850/http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/97archive/jun3/970603102.html|archive-date=November 30, 2001 }}</ref> He was one of a handful of newly elected "Young Turk" PC MPs (including [[John Herron (New Brunswick politician)|John Herron]], [[André Bachand (Progressive Conservative MP)|André Bachand]] and [[Scott Brison]]), who were under 35 years old when elected and were considered the future leadership material that might restore the ailing Tories to their glory days. In his first term of office, MacKay served as Justice Critic and House Leader for the Progressive Conservative parliamentary caucus. MacKay was the PC member of the Board of Internal Economy and the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. He also acted as an associate member of the Standing Committees on Canadian Heritage, Finance and the sub-committee on the Study of Sport. Peter MacKay served as PC Party House Leader from September 23, 1997, to September 12, 2001.<ref>{{cite web |last1=MacKay |first1=Peter |title=PARTY LEADERS AND HOUSE OFFICERS OF THE 36TH PARLIAMENT (SEPTEMBER 22, 1997 TO OCTOBER 22, 2000) |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/house-officers?parliament=36&caucusId=all&province=all&gender=all |website=ourcommons.ca |publisher=House of Commons (Canada) |access-date=29 August 2020}}</ref>

MacKay was re-elected in the [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000 federal election]] and was frequently touted by the media as a possible successor to PC Party leader [[Joe Clark]]. Many of his initial supporters referred to his strong performances in the House of Commons and magnetism as key attributes that would make him a popular leader. MacKay has been voted the "sexiest male MP in the House of Commons" by the ''Hill Times'' (a Parliament Hill newspaper) for six years in a row. When asked in a 2001 [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] documentary on the resurgence of the PC Party if he would ever consider running for the PC leadership, MacKay quipped, "If there's one thing I've learned in politics it's 'never say never.' [[Jean Charest]] taught me that."<ref name=":2" />

In August 2001, he was one of several PC MPs to engage in open cooperation talks with disaffected Canadian Alliance MPs in [[Mont-Tremblant, Quebec]]. Eventually a union of sorts was created between the PCs and the newly formed [[Democratic Representative Caucus]] (DRC). MacKay was appointed House Leader of the new PC-DR Parliamentary Coalition Caucus when it was formally recognized as a political body on September 10, 2001. The PC-DR initiative collapsed in April 2002, raising questions about Clark's leadership. Clark announced his impending resignation as party leader at the PC Party's bi-annual convention held in [[Edmonton]], Alberta in August 2002. MacKay's name was one of the first to be raised as a possible leadership contender.<ref name=":3" />

===2003 Progressive Conservative leadership race===
MacKay was largely seen as the assumed victor of the race from the outset of the leadership contest. Ultimately, his candidacy was helped by the absence of so-called "dream candidates" such as provincial Progressive Conservative Premiers [[Bernard Lord]], [[Mike Harris]] and [[Ralph Klein]] who did not run for the leadership.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}  MacKay formally launched his leadership campaign in his hometown of [[New Glasgow, Nova Scotia|New Glasgow]] in January 2003. From the onset of the campaign, MacKay insisted that his primary goal upon assuming the leadership would be the rebuilding the fractured conservative movement from within the PC tent. For much of the race, MacKay was the clear front-runner. Several opponents, including former PC Party Treasurer [[Jim Prentice]], [[social conservative]] candidate [[Craig Chandler]], and [[Red Tory]] Nova Scotia MP [[Scott Brison]], painted MacKay as a ''status quo'' or "establishment" candidate who could effectively question the Prime Minister.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}

MacKay's campaign was largely based on his leadership skills and a national organization rather than on policies or new directions. MacKay is largely viewed by political analysts as a [[Red Tory]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse/til-next-time-peter-mackay-not-running-in-the-next-election-1.3089252|title='Til next time? Peter MacKay not running in the next election|work=CBC Radio|date=May 30, 2015|access-date=September 29, 2015}}</ref> He voted in favour of [[same-sex marriage in Canada|same-sex marriage]] in 2006.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mps-defeat-bid-to-reopen-same-sex-marriage-debate-1.599856|title=MPs defeat bid to reopen same-sex marriage debate|work=CBC News|date=December 7, 2006|access-date=September 29, 2015}}</ref>

====Leadership convention====
MacKay entered the first ballot of the [[2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election|PC leadership convention]] held on May 31, 2003 with roughly 41% of the delegates supporting him.  However, on the second ballot, MacKay's support dropped to 39%. On the third ballot, MacKay's support reached 45% but many of his supporters were convinced that he had hit his popular peak. Some analysts noted that the eliminated third-place challenger [[David Orchard]] drew his 25% bulk of delegate supporters largely from the Western prairie provinces. Orchard was prepared to speak with either MacKay or Prentice to determine if a deal could be reached over some of the issues that he raised during the leadership campaign.  As the results of the third ballot were called, MacKay's campaign manager, PC Senator [[Noël Kinsella]], hastily arranged a backroom meeting between MacKay, Orchard, and their campaign advisors. During the meeting, MacKay reached a deal with his rival, and Orchard emerged from the room urging his delegates to support MacKay. Press officials immediately demanded to know what had inspired Orchard's surprise move. Orchard repeatedly referred to a "gentleman's agreement" made between himself and MacKay that had led to his qualified support.

MacKay won the final ballot with nearly 65% of the delegates supporting him. For the next few weeks, the specific details of the "Orchard deal" remained vague:  a secret between MacKay, Orchard, and their advisors.<ref>[http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/article.jsp?content=20030616_60669_60669] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050505224625/http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/article.jsp?content=20030616_60669_60669|date=May 5, 2005}}</ref> However, it was eventually revealed that the "Orchard deal" promised a review of the PC Party's policies on the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]], no merger or joint candidates with the [[Canadian Alliance]], and a promise to redouble efforts to rebuild the national status of the Progressive Conservative Party.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} The agreement also included re-examining the PC Party's policies on government subsidies for national railways and preserving the environment. The deal also requested that MacKay "clean up" the party's head office and specifically requested that the party's National Director be fired. Further evidence later revealed [[Scott Brison]]'s cellphone number written in the margins of the note for some unexplained reason. In an attempt to heal internal rifts after the convention, MacKay edited out the number. After Brison defected to the Liberal party, however, MacKay revealed the original copy.  The agreement prompted much outrage and controversy amongst [[Unite the Right (Canada)|United Alternative]] supporters and was ribaldly referred to by CA MP [[Jason Kenney]] as "a deal with the Devil".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winnipeg-sun-deal-with-the-devil-w/150124933/ |title='Deal with the devil' was more like business as usual |first=Ben |last=Mulroney |newspaper=[[Winnipeg Sun]] |page=55 |date=2003-06-08 |access-date=2024-06-26 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

At first, MacKay seemed to be willing to adhere to the deal. In June, several Clark-appointed personnel were let go from the party's main office and MacKay appointed new experienced staff whose loyalties were more closely linked to himself and former Prime Minister and PC Party leader [[Brian Mulroney]]. MacKay also appointed a couple of low level staff workers who had been supportive of David Orchard's leadership bid.  In July, MacKay struck up a "Blue Ribbon PC Policy Review Panel", made up of conservative MPs, Senators, and Orchard himself, that was to be chaired by MP [[Bill Casey]], in order to reexamine the party's policies on NAFTA.  The committee was scheduled to hold talks across the country and make a report to the leader by January 2004.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

By mid-July, political opponents and fellow Tories began attacking MacKay over the "Orchard deal." MacKay's conservative rival [[Stephen Harper]] suggested that the PC Party had hit rock-bottom when its policies and directions would be beholden to a "prairie socialist."{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}}  The secretive nature of the deal also led to concerns from within the party's headquarters and constituency associations. David Orchard was seen by many within the party as an "outsider" who was attempting to turn the Progressive Conservative Party into the "Prairie Co-operative Party". Some felt that MacKay's credibility and leadership were undermined by the deal and that electoral expectations were low for the upcoming election that was expected to occur in less than a year's time. [[Rex Murphy]] noted in a ''[[The Globe and Mail|Globe and Mail]]'' column that MacKay's leadership arrived "stillborn" and that, perhaps for the first time in recent memory, a party immediately emerged from a leadership convention grievously weakened and even less united than when it entered the convention.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

===Conservative party merger===
Public musings that the divided PCs would be marginalized in a future election between a relatively stable western-based CA under Stephen Harper and the massively popular Paul Martin Liberals (although [[Jean Chrétien]] remained the Liberal leader until November 2003, he had announced he would not run again), MacKay encouraged talks between high-profile members of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives.

On October 15, 2003, the merger talks culminated in MacKay and Alliance leader Stephen Harper signing an Agreement in Principle on the establishment of the Conservative Party of Canada, whereby the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance would merge to form a new [[Conservative Party of Canada]]. While MacKay was roundly criticized in some [[Red Tory]] circles for permitting a union under his watch, MacKay's efforts to sell the merger to the PC membership were successful: 90.4% of the party's elected delegates supported the deal in a vote on December 6, 2003. {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

Some PC caucus members refused to accept the merger: long-time MP and former [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Joe Clark]] continued to sit as a "Progressive Conservative" for the remainder of the Parliament, as did MPs [[John Herron (New Brunswick politician)|John Herron]] and [[André Bachand (Progressive Conservative MP)|André Bachand]], while [[Scott Brison]] left the new party to join the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]] in December 2003. In January 2004, several Senators left the party to sit as independents or "Progressive Conservatives". MacKay announced on January 13, 2004, that he would not run for the leadership of the new Conservative Party. On March 22, he was named deputy leader of the new party by newly elected leader Stephen Harper. He was easily re-elected in the [[2004 Canadian federal election|June 28, 2004 federal election]] in the newly redistributed riding of [[Central Nova]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/waterloo-region-record-mackay-easily-hol/150125105/ |title=MacKay easily holds on to seat in Nova Scotia |newspaper=[[Waterloo Region Record]] |place=New Glasgow, Nova Scotia |agency=Canadian Press |page=5 |date=2004-06-29 |access-date=2024-06-26 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
[[File:Petermackaytobeswornin2006.JPG|thumb|upright|left|MacKay arrives at [[Rideau Hall]] for the swearing in of the new government after the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 Canadian election]]]]
On September 29, 2005, the [[Premier of Nova Scotia]], [[John Hamm]], announced his intention to resign. There was speculation that MacKay would return to the province to pursue provincial politics and enter the [[Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia]] [[2006 Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia leadership election|leadership race]] to become the Premier. MacKay would have been considered a front-runner in the race; however, he decided to remain with the Federal Conservatives.
The Liberal government lost a motion of non-confidence on November 28, 2005. In the resulting January 2006 election, the Conservative Party was elected with a minority government. He did retain his seat by a comfortable margin.

==Government==
===Minister of Foreign Affairs===
[[File:Mackay-amorim05022007.jpg|thumb|MacKay as [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]], speaking with his Brazilian counterpart, [[Celso Amorim]], February 2007]]
Following the Conservative victory in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 election]], Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] named MacKay as [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] and [[Minister for the purposes of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Act|Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]]; he was also tasked to be the political minister for both his home province, and for neighbouring [[Prince Edward Island]], just as his father [[Elmer MacKay|Elmer]] had done between 1988 and 1993. {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

During the first mandate, his biggest issue was the [[Lebanon]]–[[Israel]]–[[Hezbollah]] [[2006 Lebanon War|crisis]] that occurred in July 2006. The government decided to evacuate thousands of Canadians from Lebanon to safer locations and many back to Canada. MacKay responded to critics saying that the process was slow, that the boats (those which were used to evacuate) had limited capacity. MacKay's statements in support of the Israelis during the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]] created a national debate in Canada, especially among Arabs and Muslim Canadians who opposed MacKay's position. During this period MacKay and the [[Conservative Party of Canada]] joined the Bush Administration in opposing the [[United Nations]]' call for a ceasefire. It was also during this period that MacKay made a controversial statement in which he referred to [[Hezbollah]] as a "cancer" in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_2382.aspx |title=Citytv |publisher=Citynews.ca |access-date=May 5, 2011 }} {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Hezbollah is formally recognized by the government of Canada as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-eng.aspx#Hizballah%23Hizballah |title=Currently listed entities |publisher=Publicsafety.gc.ca |date=February 1, 2011 |access-date=May 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209042421/http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-eng.aspx#Hizballah%23Hizballah |archive-date=February 9, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

On October 19, 2006, during a debate on the Conservative Party's clean air plan, MP [[Mark Holland]] said that a Liberal colleague, [[David McGuinty]] asked MacKay about the impact of pollution on humans and animals by asking, "What about your dog?" This referred to MacKay posing for photographs on a farm with his neighbour's dog following his break-up with Belinda Stronach.<ref name="Neighbour's dog">{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andrew-coyne-peter-mackay-was-a-politician-of-many-titles-but-little-achievement|title=Peter MacKay was a politician of many titles, but little achievement|author=Coyne, Andrew|date=30 May 2015|publisher=[[National Post]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> MacKay then allegedly pointed to Stronach's vacant chair and replied "You already have her." Holland lodged a complaint with the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (Canada)|Commons Speaker]] and demanded an apology from MacKay. Stronach has said that the comment was disrespectful to both herself and Canadian women, and has herself asked for an apology. MacKay has denied referring to Stronach as a "dog".<ref name="MacKay denies-CBC">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mackay-denies-referring-to-stronach-as-a-dog-1.625723|title=MacKay denies referring to Stronach as a dog|date=October 19, 2006|access-date=April 4, 2014|publisher=CBC News}}</ref> The alleged comment was not heard by Speaker of the House [[Peter Milliken]] and it was not recorded in the official Hansard. Afterwards, Milliken and his staff said that they could not hear the remarks on the tape recording.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/stronach-demands-mackay-apologize-for-alleged-dog-comment-1.599061|title=Stronach demands MacKay apologize for alleged 'dog' comment|publisher=CBC News|date=October 21, 2006|access-date=May 14, 2018}}</ref>

===Minister of National Defence===
[[File:Peter MacKay CYCLONE.jpg|thumb|MacKay inspects a new [[Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone]] with members of the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]], May 2011.]]
On August 14, 2007, Stephen Harper shuffled MacKay from Foreign Affairs to Defence, replacing [[Gordon O'Connor]]. On November 6, 2007, while attending a meeting at [[Forward Operating Base Wilson]], 20 kilometres west of [[Kandahar]] City, Mackay was unharmed as two rockets struck the base at about 11 a.m. local time. Mackay described the incident: "There was an explosion. It was a loud bang", said MacKay. "When it happened, we heard the explosion, we heard the whistle overhead, we were told to get down and we did."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071106/mackay_afghan_071106/20071106?hub=World |title=MacKay unhurt in rocket attack on Afghan base&nbsp;— CTV News |publisher=Ctv.ca |date=November 6, 2007 |access-date=May 5, 2011 }} {{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The incident happened on the same day that a [[Suicide Bomber|suicide bomber]] [[2007 Baghlan sugar factory bombing|detonated an explosive]] in [[Baghlan]] in the northeastern part of the country killing at least 75 including several politicians. While [[Taliban]] insurgents were suspected of being behind the bombing, it was not believed to be related to the attack in Kandahar.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7081012.stm|work=BBC News|title=Afghan suicide blast 'kills 40'|date=November 6, 2007|access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref>

In 2008, MacKay announced a broad exhaustive and very expensive program to upgrade the Canadian military's equipment, spending over $400 billion over 25 years. Unlike every previous spending announcement of its kind, no "white paper" or detailed breakdown of this number was available nor was any claimed to exist. This led to widespread speculation that an election was coming. [[Stephen Harper]] did in fact declare Parliament "dysfunctional" in August 2008 and called on [[Governor General of Canada]] [[Michaëlle Jean]] to dissolve parliament for the [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008 federal election]].
[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 120327-D-NI589-221 - Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta is greeted by Canadian Minister of National Defense Peter MacKay as he arrives for trilateral meetings with.jpg|thumb|MacKay as with his American counterpart, [[Leon Panetta]], during a trilateral meeting with defence ministers from Canada, Mexico, and the United States, March 2012]]
In July 2010, MacKay was accused of inappropriately using public funds when he combined the use of a Canadian Cormorant military helicopter for both a search and rescue demonstration, and to transport the minister from a private fishing camp in Newfoundland to Gander Airport. The cost of this to taxpayers was approximately $16,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/28/dnd-emails-reveal-new-questions-over-peter-mackays-cormorant-helicopter-ride-to-news-conference|title=DND emails reveal new questions over Peter MacKay's Cormorant helicopter ride to news conference|date=January 13, 2013|access-date=April 22, 2013}}</ref> MacKay, then the Minister of National Defence, defended his use of the military helicopter stating, "Three days into the visit I participated in a search and rescue demonstration with 103 squadron 9 Wing Gander. I shortened my stay by a day to take part in that demonstration".<ref name=":3">{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/22/mackay-defends-use-of-chopper-after-fishing-trip|author= Dominique La Haye| title=MacKay defends use of chopper after fishing trip|publisher= The Toronto Sun| date=September 22, 2011|access-date=December 1, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114031158/http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/22/mackay-defends-use-of-chopper-after-fishing-trip|archivedate=November 14, 2014}}</ref>

In 2009, he undertook two days of basic military training as part of [[CBC Television]]'s ''[[Make the Politician Work]]''.<ref>[[Jane Taber]], "MacKay dons fatigues, loses his hair in TV boot camp". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', September 5, 2009.</ref>

On June 5, 2012, it was revealed that a widely publicized 2010 news conference announcing Conservative plans to buy 65 [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35]] Stealth Fighters had cost $47,000.  Documents provided to parliament by Peter Mackay indicated that [[Lockheed Martin]] had delivered the F-35 mockup used in the photo-op for free, and that the cost was primarily for services to support the news conference and one hundred invited guests.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/cost-for-mackay-to-park-his-posterior-in-f-35-mockup-47000/article4232307/ | location=Toronto | work=The Globe and Mail | title=Cost for MacKay to 'park his posterior' in F-35 mockup: $47,000 | date=June 5, 2012}}</ref>

===Minister of Justice and Attorney General===
On July 15, 2013, the cabinet was shuffled, and Mackay became the [[Minister of Justice (Canada)|Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]], replacing [[Rob Nicholson]], who took over the defence portfolio.<ref name="Harper cabinet shakeup">{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-adds-8-new-faces-in-major-cabinet-shakeup-1.1307385 | title=Harper adds 8 new faces in major cabinet shakeup | publisher=CBC | date=July 16, 2013 | access-date=May 14, 2018}}</ref>

On March 5, 2014, MacKay generated controversy when, in response to opposition Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux, he tossed documents purporting to concern the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women onto the floor of the House of Commons.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tempers-flare-on-eve-of-report-into-missing-and-murdered-aboriginal-women-1.2561475 Tempers flare on eve of report into missing and murdered aboriginal women – Politics – CBC News]. Cbc.ca (March 6, 2014). Retrieved on 2015-10-14.</ref> The following week, he apologized to the Commons for his outburst.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/969520/peter-mackay-apologizes-for-throwing-documents-about-murdered-missing-aboriginal-women/|title=Peter MacKay apologizes for throwing documents about murdered, missing Aboriginal women|work=Metro News|date=March 12, 2014|access-date=2023-12-01|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320213858/http://metronews.ca:80/news/halifax/969520/peter-mackay-apologizes-for-throwing-documents-about-murdered-missing-aboriginal-women/|archivedate=March 20, 2014}}</ref>

==Out of Parliament==

===2015–present===
On May 29, 2015, MacKay announced that he would not be a candidate in the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Justice Minister Peter MacKay, 49, quitting politics|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/05/29/peter-mackay-quitting-politics.html|access-date=May 29, 2015|work=Toronto Star|date=May 29, 2015}}</ref>

In February 2016, MacKay joined law firm [[Baker McKenzie]] as a partner.<ref name="Baker & McKenzie">{{cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/peter-mackay-toronto-law-firm-partner-baker-mckenzie-1.3418382 | title=Peter MacKay joins law firm Baker & McKenzie as a partner | publisher=[[CBC News]] | date=25 January 2016 | access-date=26 January 2016}}</ref> MacKay's family now resides in [[The Beaches, Toronto|The Beaches]] area of [[Toronto]].<ref name="thestar.com">{{cite news| url = https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2017/01/16/former-conservative-government-stalwart-peter-mackay-pops-up-at-city-hall.html| title = Former Conservative government stalwart Peter MacKay pops up at city hall {{!}} The Star| newspaper = The Toronto Star| date = January 16, 2017| last1 = Rider| first1 = David}} </ref>

On November 17, 2017,  MacKay said he had not ruled out the possibility of running for the leadership of the [[Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CTVAnchor/status/931631842398294017|title=In @CTVAtlantic interview former MP and MND Peter MacKay leaves door wide open for run for NS PC Leadership.|last=Murphy|first=Steve|date=<!--1:15 PM - -->17 November 2017|website=@CTVAnchor|language=en|access-date=2017-11-17}}</ref>

After the Conservative defeat in the 2015 election, MacKay was considered a potential candidate to succeed former Prime Minister Stephen Harper as permanent leader of the Conservative Party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/who-will-replace-steven-harper-as-leader-of-the-progressive-conservatives|title=National Post}}</ref><ref name="Mackay 2017 leadership polling">{{cite web|title=Kevin O'Leary and Peter MacKay top Tory leadership poll|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-oleary-conservative-poll-1.3408600|author=Grenier, Éric|date=18 January 2016|publisher=CBC News|access-date=26 January 2016}}</ref> On September 12, 2016, MacKay announced he would not seek the Conservative party leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Peter MacKay won't seek Conservative leadership|date=September 12, 2016|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/peter-mackay-won-t-seek-conservative-leadership-1.3068919|access-date=2016-09-13}}</ref>

On January 15, 2020, MacKay announced his intention to run for the [[2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=I'm in. Stay tuned.|url=https://twitter.com/PeterMacKay/status/1217527351518679042|last=MacKay|first=Peter|date=2020-01-15|website=@PeterMacKay|language=en|access-date=2020-01-17}}</ref>

He was appointed to the board of Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. on April 8, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://investorintel.com/markets/cleantech/cleantech-news/cielo-announces-the-appointment-of-the-hon-peter-mackay-and-jasdeep-dhaliwal-to-the-board-of-directors-and-the-appointment-of-a-new-cfo/|title=Cielo Announces the Appointment of the Hon. Peter MacKay and Jasdeep Dhaliwal to the Board of Directors and the Appointment of a New CFO|date=April 12, 2021}}</ref>

====2020 Conservative leadership race====
{{main|2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election}}
[[File:Andrew Scheer in Little Harbour (48931235432).jpg|thumb|MacKay (centre-left foreground) with [[Andrew Scheer]] during the [[2019 Canadian federal election]] campaign]]
On October 10, 2019, ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' reported that MacKay supporters were preparing to launch a leadership bid should Conservative Party leader [[Andrew Scheer]] fail to secure a government in the 2019 federal election. MacKay responded to questions by saying that he was "not [aware]" of Conservatives backers organizing a campaign, and that he was "doing everything I can to help Andrew and support him and his team. I’m not entertaining that at all.”<ref>{{cite news|title=Allies of former Conservative Party minister Peter MacKay mull leadership bid|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-allies-of-former-conservative-minister-peter-mackay-mull-leadership/|access-date=2019-10-11}}</ref>

On December 12, 2019, Scheer announced he was resigning as Conservative party leader, but would stay on until a new leader was chosen.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Conolly|first1=Amanda|title=Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer resigns, vows to stay on until new leader chosen|language=en|work=Global News|agency=Global News|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6288286/andrew-scheer-resignation/|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>

On January 15, 2020, MacKay announced his intention to run for the [[2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race]].<ref name=":0" /> After weeks of speculation, MacKay tweeted from his [[Twitter]] account: "I'm in. Stay tuned."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Platt|first1=Brian|date=16 January 2020|title='I'm in': Peter MacKay announces his entry into Conservative leadership race. {{!}} National Post|language=en-CA|agency=National Post|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/peter-mackay-to-announce-his-entry-into-conservative-leadership-race|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> He officially launched his campaign on January 25, 2020 at the [[Nova Scotia Museum of Industry]] in [[Stellarton]], Nova Scotia. On January 26, 2020, a Washington Post columnist posted a comparison of Peter MacKay's campaign logo and that of personal finance blog Maple Money, which started comparisons to the previous [[Canadian Energy Centre#Canadian Energy Centre Logo|Canadian Energy Centre trademark issues]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=UPDATE: Seeing double? Peter MacKay's campaign logo uncannily similar to another {{!}} The Chronicle Herald|url=http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/provincial/seeing-double-peter-mackays-campaign-logo-uncannily-similar-to-another-404910/|last=Gunn|first=Andrea|website=thechronicleherald.ca|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref>

MacKay was defeated by [[Erin O'Toole|Erin O’Toole]] on the third ballot of the leadership vote.<ref name=":1" />

After the vote, it was revealed that MacKay spent $124,000 on security during the campaign<ref>{{Cite news|last=Levitz|first=Stephanie|date=2021-07-28|title=Peter MacKay hired bodyguards for his family during Conservative leadership race, records show|language=en-CA|work=The Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/07/28/peter-mackay-hired-bodyguards-for-his-family-during-conservative-leadership-race-records-show.html|access-date=2022-02-06|issn=0319-0781}}</ref> in response to numerous death threats that were lodged against him and his family.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Levitz|first=Stephanie|date=2021-10-08|title=Man arrested in triple homicide was a suspect in death threats against Peter MacKay|language=en-CA|work=The Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/10/08/man-arrested-in-triple-homicide-was-a-suspect-in-death-threats-against-peter-mackay.html|access-date=2022-02-06|issn=0319-0781}}</ref>

==Personal life==
MacKay was chosen as "Canada's Sexiest Male MP" by ''[[The Hill Times]]'' from 1999–2007 and 2009, coming in second in 2008 to [[Maxime Bernier]]. His former longtime girlfriend was Lisa Michelle Merrithew, daughter of former [[Brian Mulroney|Mulroney]] cabinet minister [[Gerald Merrithew]]. They reportedly ended their relationship in 2004. He then was romantically linked to fellow MP [[Belinda Stronach]] in published reports. In an interview in the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' on January 8, 2005, Stronach confirmed that she and MacKay were dating. Stronach, elected as a Conservative in the 2004 election, [[crossing the floor|crossed the floor]] to the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]] on May 17, 2005. On May 18, 2005, MacKay told the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] that his relationship with Stronach was indeed over, and that it had come as a surprise to him that she had crossed the floor. According to [[Don Martin (journalist)|Don Martin]], a ''[[National Post]]'' columnist who wrote a biography, ''Belinda: the Political and Private Life of Belinda Stronach'' in September 2006, MacKay reacted "with volcanic fury" when he learned about her defection.<ref>[[CTV Television Network|CTV]] News, October 2, 2006, [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060929/mackay_stronach_060929?s_name=&no_ads= "MacKay was 'furious' at Stronach defection"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313184442/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060929/mackay_stronach_060929?s_name=&no_ads=|date=March 13, 2007}}</ref>

On November 26, 2005, the ''National Post'' revealed that Mackay and Sophie Desmarais of the billionaire Power Corporation family were dating.<ref>''National Post''. (November 26, 2005). [http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=0fef3e53-532b-41ca-b8ed-ef2b4c191c80 "Belinda who? MacKay seen with new heiress"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924042226/http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=0fef3e53-532b-41ca-b8ed-ef2b4c191c80|date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>

By September 2006, MacKay's romantic life was again in the papers, with ''[[The New York Times]]'' reporting on gossip about his alleged involvement with [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Condoleezza Rice]].<ref name="nytimes.com">[[New York Times]], September 13, 2006 [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/13/washington/13diplo.html "Dance of Diplomacy is Grist for the Gossip Mill"]</ref><ref>''[[Toronto Star]]'', September 13, 2006 [https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1158097812435&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154 "This has been a lovely trip, Peter"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606232931/http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FLayout%2FArticle_Type1&c=Article&cid=1158097812435&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154|date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' described him as "Tall, athletic, young, blond", and having "a tan and the build of someone who spends his time on the rugby field, not holed up reading G-8 communiqués."<ref name="nytimes.com" />

MacKay had been seen in public dating Jana Juginovic, director of programming at [[CTV News Channel (Canada)|CTV News Channel]], after having kept their relationship private for many months. They attended the annual Black & White Opera Soirée together at the [[National Arts Centre]] in Ottawa on February 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/Photo+Gallery+Black+White+Opera+Soir%C3%A9e/1316332/story.html|title=Photo Gallery: The Black and White Opera Soirée|date=February 22, 2009|publisher=Ottawacitizen.com|access-date=May 5, 2011}}</ref> MacKay's engagement to Juginovic was announced on November 1, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/happy-ending-for-defence-minister-mackay/article_3c8b98bd-0223-57cd-bcfd-2fbcda41bf00.html|title=Happy ending for Defence Minister MacKay?|work=The Toronto Star|date=November 3, 2009|access-date=December 1, 2023}}</ref> MacKay and Juginovic later called off the engagement in June 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tabor|first=Jane|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/peter-mackay-fiance-split-up/article1593579/|title=Peter MacKay, fiancée split up|work=The Globe and Mail|date=June 5, 2010|access-date=December 1, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607041910/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/peter-mackay-fiance-split-up/article1593579/|archivedate=June 7, 2010}}</ref>

On January 4, 2012, MacKay married [[Nazanin Afshin-Jam]], an Iranian-born former beauty queen, in a ceremony in Mexico. Afshin-Jam holds degrees in international relations and political science. She is co-founder and president of Stop Child Executions, a human rights group whose aim is to focus world attention on the plight of young people on death row in Iran.<ref>{{cite web|last=Galloway|first=Gloria|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/peter-mackay-weds-rights-activist-former-beauty-queen/article620485/06/|title=Peter MacKay weds rights activist, former beauty queen|work=Globe and Mail|date=January 4, 2012|access-date=December 1, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524081131/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/peter-mackay-weds-rights-activist-former-beauty-queen/article620485/06/|archivedate=May 24, 2015}}</ref> The couple has two sons, Kian Alexander MacKay, born April 1, 2013,<ref>''CTV News'' (April 1, 2013). [http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/defence-minister-peter-mackay-announces-birth-of-son-kian-alexander-1.1218997 "Defence Minister Peter MacKay announces birth of son Kian Alexander"]</ref> and Caledon Cyrus MacKay, born July 28, 2018 <ref>'NG News' (July 30, 2018). [http://www.ngnews.ca/news/local/peter-mackay-and-wife-nazanin-welcome-third-child-230006/ "Peter MacKay and wife Nazanin welcome third child"]</ref> as well as one daughter, Valentia Makaja MacKay, born September 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1314102-peter-mackay-and-nazanin-afshin-jam-announce-birth-of-baby-girl-valentia|title=Peter MacKay and Nazanin Afshin-Jam announce birth of baby girl Valentia|author=Andrea Gunn|date=September 30, 2015|work=The Chronicle Herald|access-date=December 1, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001132538/http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1314102-peter-mackay-and-nazanin-afshin-jam-announce-birth-of-baby-girl-valentia|archivedate=October 1, 2015}}</ref>

In his spare time, MacKay has served on many volunteer boards including New Leaf and Tearmann House. He has also been active in [[Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada|Big Brothers Big Sisters]], the Pictou County Senior Rugby Club and the [[YMCA]]. A sports enthusiast, MacKay was active in local rugby, baseball, football and hockey teams in [[Pictou County, Nova Scotia]]. He played for the [[Nova Scotia Keltics]] rugby union club.

==Electoral record==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership results by ballot<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/24003224/6a2fd06b9518d0a.pdf|title=RCV Short Report|date=August 24, 2020|access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Candidate
! colspan="4" |1st ballot
! colspan="4" |2nd ballot
! colspan="4" |3rd ballot
|-
!Votes cast
!%
!Points allocated
!%
!Votes cast
!%
!Points allocated
!%
!Votes cast
!%
!Points allocated
!%
|- style="background:lightgreen;"
| [[File:Erin O'Toole (cropped).png|50px]]
| '''[[Erin O'Toole]]'''
|51,258
|29.39%
|10,681.40
|31.60%
|56,907
|33.20%
|'''11,903.69'''
|'''35.22%'''
|'''90,635'''
|'''58.86%'''
|'''19,271.74'''
|'''57.02%'''
|-
| [[File:Peter MacKay crop (cropped).JPG|50px]]
| Peter MacKay
|'''52,851'''
|'''30.30%'''
|'''11,328.55'''
|'''33.52%'''
|54,165
|31.60%
|11,756.01
|34.78%
|63,356
|41.14%
|14,528.26
|42.98%
|-
| [[File:LeslynLewis-HEADSHOT1-lg.jpg|50px]]
| [[Leslyn Lewis]]
|43,017
|24.67%
|6,925.38
|20.49%
|'''60,316'''
|'''35.20%'''
|10,140.30
|30.00%
| colspan="4" style="background:pink; text-align:center" | Eliminated
|-
| [[File:Derek Sloan Image.jpg|50px]]
| [[Derek Sloan]]
|27,278
|15.64%
|4,864.67
|14.39%
| colspan="8" style="background:pink; text-align:center" | Eliminated
|-
! colspan="2" | Total
!align="right"|  174,404
!align="right"|  100%
!align="right"|  33,800
!align="right"|  100%
!align="right"|  171,388
!align="right"|  100%
!align="right"|  33,800
!align="right"|  100%
!align="right"|  153,991
!align="right"|  100%
!align="right"|  33,800
!align="right"|  100%
|}

{{2011 Canadian federal election/Central Nova}}
{{2008 Canadian federal election/Central Nova}}
{{2006 Canadian federal election/Central Nova}}
{{2004 Canadian federal election/Central Nova}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election – delegate support by ballot
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Candidate
! colspan="2" | 1st ballot
! colspan="2" | 2nd ballot
! colspan="2" | 3rd ballot
! colspan="2" | 4th ballot
|-
! Votes cast
! %
! Votes cast
! %
! Votes cast
! %
! Votes cast
! %
|- style="background:lightgreen;"
| [[File:Peter-MacKay.jpg|50px]]
| '''MACKAY, Peter Gordon'''
|align="right"|  1,080
|align="right"|  41.1%
|align="right"|  1,018
|align="right"|  39.7%
|align="right"|  1,128
|align="right"|  45.0%
|align="right"|  '''1,538'''
|align="right"|  '''64.8%'''
|-
| [[File:Jim Prentice.jpg|50px]]
| [[Jim Prentice|PRENTICE, James (Jim)]]
|align="right"|  478
|align="right"|  18.2%
|align="right"|  466
|align="right"|  18.2%
|align="right"|  761
|align="right"|  30.4%
|align="right"|  836
|align="right"|  35.2%
|-
|
| [[David Orchard|ORCHARD, David]]
|align="right"|  640
|align="right"|  24.3%
|align="right"|  619
|align="right"|  24.1%
|align="right"|  617
|align="right"|  24.6%
| style="text-align:center; background:pink;" colspan="2" | Endorsed MacKay
|-
| [[File:Scott Brison 2010.jpg|50px]]
| [[Scott Brison|BRISON, Scott A.]]
|align="right"|  431
|align="right"|  16.4%
|align="right"|  463
|align="right"|  18.0%
| style="text-align:center; background:pink;" colspan="4" | Endorsed Prentice
|-
|
| [[Craig Chandler|CHANDLER, Craig B.]]
| align="right"| 0
| align="right"| —
| style="text-align:center; background:lightblue;" colspan="6" | Withdrew before 1st ballot began; Endorsed Prentice
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!align="right"|  2,629
!align="right"|  100.0%
!align="right"|  2,566
!align="right"|  100.0%
!align="right"|  2,506
!align="right"|  100.0%
!align="right"|  2,374
!align="right"|  100.0%
|}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2000|Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Peter MacKay|19,256|48.32}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Raymond Mason|12,634|31.70}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Wendy Panagopoulous|4,498|11.29}}
{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Alliance|Harvey Henderson|2,915|7.31}}
{{CANelec|XX|Independent|Darryl Gallivan|551|1.38}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1997|Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Peter MacKay|18,196|42.34}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Francis Leblanc|12,851|29.90}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Charlene Long|8,284|19.28}}
{{CANelec|CA|Reform|Henry Van Berkel|3,416|7.95}}
{{CANelec|CA|Natural Law|Richard Robertson|228|0.53}}
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
* {{official website|http://www.petermackay.ca/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080918033820/http://www.votepetermackay.ca/ Former campaign site]
* {{Canadian Parliament links| parliament = 170722 | ID = 14074 | openparl = peter-mackay}}

{{s-start}}
{{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=28}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
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|post4         = [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
|post4years    = 2006–2007
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|post3         = {{nowrap|[[Minister for the purposes of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Act|Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]]}}
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}}
{{s-end}}

{{Harper Ministry}}
{{Canadian Conservative Leaders}}
{{CA-Ministers of Foreign Affairs}}
{{CA-Ministers of Defence}}
{{CA-Ministers for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency}}
{{Portal bar|Canada|Nova Scotia|Politics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackay, Peter}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Acadia University alumni]]
[[Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian monarchists]]
[[Category:Canadian prosecutors]]
[[Category:Canadian King's Counsel]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Canadian rugby union players]]
[[Category:Conservative Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Schulich School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Ministers of national defence of Canada]]
[[Category:Lawyers in Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the 28th Canadian Ministry]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]
[[Category:People from Kings County, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:People from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Politicians from Pictou County]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]