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Elmer MacKay, a longtime former Progressive Conservative MP and cabinet minister, and the father of former MP Peter MacKay, has died. He was 89.
Peter MacKay posted the news on X on Friday.
“His was an extraordinary life, collecting legions of friends leaving a legacy of hard work and public service,” the post reads.
“He loved the forest, poetry, sport, law and good debate, the Yankees and especially his family. Deeply missed and alive in our hearts. Sleep well Pop, you earned your rest.”
Elmer MacKay was first elected as MP for Central Nova in 1971 during a byelection. He was subsequently re-elected and then resigned his seat in 1983 so newly elected PC Leader Brian Mulroney could run in that riding.
MacKay was elected once again in the 1984 election and continued serving as MP until 1993, when he stepped down as cabinet minister and did not seek the seat in that fall’s election.
MacKay held various ministerial portfolios, including regional economic expansion, solicitor general, national revenue, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and public works.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Premier Tim Houston said he was saddened by MacKay’s death, calling him “one of Pictou County’s greatest representatives” who “never lost sight of his Pictou County roots.”
“Elmer kept his name and number in the phone book so you could always get ahold of him. Over the years, our MLA offices would often hear from Elmer if he was talking to a person he thought we might be able to help. He was a great person who was always eager to help people,” wrote Houston, who is the MLA for Pictou East.
“For those of us from Pictou County, the MacKay name has been part of the fabric of public life for as long as most of us can remember. Elmer set that standard, and he set it high.”
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