Melvin McQuaid

Melvin James McQuaid (6 September 1911 – 16 January 2001) was a Progressive Conservative party member of the House of Commons of Canada. He was born in Souris, Prince Edward Island and became a lawyer and clerk by career.

Melvin James McQuaid
Official 1968 portrait
MLA (Councillor) for 1st Kings
In office 1 September 1959 – 10 December 1962
Preceded by	Brenton St. John
Succeeded by	Daniel J. MacDonald
In office 4 December 1972 – 1 July 1976
Preceded by	Daniel J. MacDonald
Succeeded by	James Bernard Fay
Member of Parliament for King's
In office 8 November 1965 – 25 June 1968
Preceded by	John Mullally
Succeeded by	riding dissolved
Member of Parliament for Cardigan
In office 25 June 1968 – 1 September 1972
Preceded by	riding created
Succeeded by	Daniel J. MacDonald
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island
In office 2 February 1973 – 1 July 1976
Preceded by	George Key
Succeeded by	Lloyd MacPhail (interim)
Personal details
Born	(1911-09-06)6 September 1911 Souris, Prince Edward Island
Died	16 January 2001(2001-01-16) (aged 89)
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse	Catherine Handrahan (m. 15 September 1947, predeceased)[1]
Profession	lawyer, clerk

McQuaid attended Saint Dunstan's University, St. Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie Law School.^[1]

In 1957, he became town clerk for Souris.^[1] He served in provincial politics as a Councillor of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island for 1st Kings District from 1959 to 1962, including functions as provincial treasurer and Attorney General.^[1]

He was first elected at the King's riding in the 1965 general election, and re-elected at the Cardigan riding in the 1968 election.

After serving his terms in the 27th and 28th Canadian Parliaments, McQuaid returned to provincial politics to become leader of the provincial Progressive Conservative party which was the Opposition party. He once again became a Councillor for the 1st Kings electoral district from 1972 until 1976. After leaving provincial office, McQuaid was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. After his retirement from the court in 1981, he served on the National Parole Board.^[2][3]

Electoral record

v t e 1968 Canadian federal election: Cardigan
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Melvin McQuaid	5,717	49.53
	Liberal	John Mullally	5,623	48.75
	New Democratic	Spurgeon Joseph Hazelden	203	1.76
Total valid votes			11,543	100.00