Malcolm MacKay (Canadian politician)

Malcolm A. MacKay (January 29, 1944 – January 25, 2025) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Sackville in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1978 to 1984. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party.^[1]

Malcolm A. MacKay
MLA for Sackville
In office 1978–1984
Preceded by	new riding
Succeeded by	John Holm
Personal details
Born	(1944-01-29)January 29, 1944 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died	January 25, 2025(2025-01-25) (aged 80)
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Residence	Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
Occupation	Telephone technician

Life and career

MacKay was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on January 29, 1944. Educated in Montreal at Sir George Williams University and Collège Sainte-Marie de Montréal, he was a telephone technician. In 1962, he married Claudia June Burns.^[2]

After serving two years on Halifax County Council,^[2] MacKay entered provincial politics in the 1978 election, defeating Liberal incumbent George Doucet in the new Sackville riding.^[3] He was re-elected in the 1981 election.^[4] In the 1984 election, MacKay was defeated by New Democrat John Holm, finishing third behind Liberal Bill MacDonald.^[5] Controversy arose during the campaign, when MacKay admitted he used a false address to claim expenses as a member living away from the capital.^[6][7] In April 1985, an Auditor General's report asked MacKay to repay over $7,000 in extra expenses.^[8] The money was paid back and MacKay was not charged criminally.^[9]

In February 2004, a political comeback bid ended when MacKay's candidacy for the Conservative nomination in Halifax West for the 2004 federal election was rejected by the party.^[9][10] MacKay attempted to return to provincial politics in the 2006 election, running for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party in Hants East,^[11] but finished third.^[12]

MacKay died on January 25, 2025, at the age of 80.^[13]