Hon. Peter MacKay joins us from Ottawa to discuss the dynamic changes being made and new directions being undertaken by the Harper Government in terms of Canadian foreign policy. In particular he’ll address expanding trade and foreign relations in the Americas.
Peter MacKay was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency on February 6, 2006.
A lawyer and former Crown Attorney, Mr. MacKay was elected Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough in June 1997. He was reelected in November 2000. He has served as the Conservative MP for the riding of Central Nova since June 2004.
From 1997 to 2002, Mr. MacKay served as House Leader for the Progressive Conservative caucus. In May 2003, Peter became Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Following the unification of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance Party in 2004, Peter was named the 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. He is a graduate of Acadia University and completed Law School at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 1991 and worked in private practice and for the Crown.
With strong family ties to the local area, Minister MacKay has served on a range of local volunteer Boards and has been active in Big Brothers-Big Sisters and the YMCA.
