Lead Minister Search and Rescue

The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay
Minister of National Defence

Peter MacKay was first elected to Parliament in 1997. He was re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2006. On August 14, 2007, Mr. MacKay was appointed as Minister of National Defence. Prior to his appointment Mr. MacKay served as Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister. He is also the Cabinet Minister responsible for Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and represents the northern Nova Scotia constituency of Central Nova as Member of Parliament.

In his first five years in the House of Commons, Mr. MacKay served as House Leader for the Progressive Conservative caucus.

On May 31, 2003, Mr. MacKay became Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. In March 2004, following the unification of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance Party, he was named Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and was renamed Deputy Leader following the June 2004 election.

Mr. MacKay was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. After graduating with an arts degree from Acadia University in 1987, he went on to study law at Dalhousie University. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 1991.

With strong family ties to the local area, he returned to New Glasgow to open a private law practice specializing in criminal and family law. In 1993, he 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.

Mr. MacKay has served on volunteer boards including New Leaf and Tearmann House. As well he has been active in Big Brothers-Big Sisters, the Pictou County Senior Rugby Club and the YMCA.

A sports enthusiast, Mr. MacKay enjoys rugby, baseball, football and hockey.