Francis MacKenzie
Encyclopedia
Francis MacKenzie
Francis MacKenzie (born May 7, 1960 in Sydney, Nova Scotia
is a former leader of the Nova Scotia
Liberal Party
. He won the leadership for the party on October 23, 2004.
in sales and development roles for Sealtest/Ault Foods, and Bausch & Lomb
Canada. He also served for several years as General Manager for MacKenzie Standardbreds, a horse racing enterprise operating in Toronto
, Montreal
, New York
, and New Jersey
, and one of the largest of its kind in Canada
.
Returning to Nova Scotia in 1989, MacKenzie became Director of Sales for the Halifax Citadels
hockey franchise for two years. He was then hired as Executive Director for the Town of Bedford
’s Economic Development Commission, a position he held until 1996 when the town became part of the Halifax Regional Municipality.
From 1996 to 1997, MacKenzie was the Vice President and General Manager of the Greater Halifax Partnership, a business/government partnership involved in economic development for the metro area.
In 1997, MacKenzie was hired by the provincial government (at the time it was being led by Premier Russell MacLellan
) to serve as an Executive Director of Investment and Trade for the Department of Economic Development. During this period, one of his private companies developed software for cameras and some equipment. A scandal broke out when it was released that his production company tried to sell the product at a pornography fair in Las Vegas
. He originally denied any knowledge of the event but later acknowledged that he had sent his team to try to sell equipment.
. MacKenzie led the Liberals to a poor showing; reducing their caucus to 9 MLAs. MacKenzie failed in his effort to win his own seat in Bedford
. He said that he would meet with the president of the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia in order to discuss the future of the party. Mackenzie resigned shortly after the election, and was succeeded by Michel Samson
on an interim basis, then Stephen McNeil
in April 2007.
The day after the election, MacKenzie suggested that the Liberals and the NDP form a coalition to topple the government and take power, with NDP leader Darrell Dexter
as premier.
Francis MacKenzie (born May 7, 1960 in Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
is a former leader of the Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Nova Scotia
The Liberal Party of Nova Scotia is a political party in Nova Scotia, Canada.-Origins:The party is descended from the pre-Confederation Reformers in Nova Scotia who coalesced around Joseph Howe demanding the institution of responsible government...
. He won the leadership for the party on October 23, 2004.
Early life
Following graduation from St. FX in 1982, MacKenzie worked in OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in sales and development roles for Sealtest/Ault Foods, and Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb, an American company based in Rochester, New York, is one of the world's leading suppliers of eye health products, such as contact lenses and lens care products today. In addition to this main activity, in recent years the area of medical technology has been developed...
Canada. He also served for several years as General Manager for MacKenzie Standardbreds, a horse racing enterprise operating in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and one of the largest of its kind in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Returning to Nova Scotia in 1989, MacKenzie became Director of Sales for the Halifax Citadels
Halifax Citadels
The Halifax Citadels were a professional ice hockey team based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League between 1988 and 1993...
hockey franchise for two years. He was then hired as Executive Director for the Town of Bedford
Bedford, Nova Scotia
Bedford is a community in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was an independent town from 1980-1996. Bedford lies on the northwestern end of Bedford Basin, an extension of the Halifax Harbour...
’s Economic Development Commission, a position he held until 1996 when the town became part of the Halifax Regional Municipality.
From 1996 to 1997, MacKenzie was the Vice President and General Manager of the Greater Halifax Partnership, a business/government partnership involved in economic development for the metro area.
In 1997, MacKenzie was hired by the provincial government (at the time it was being led by Premier Russell MacLellan
Russell MacLellan
Russell Gregoire MacLellan is a Canadian politician who served as the 24th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1997 to 1999.MacLellan was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia...
) to serve as an Executive Director of Investment and Trade for the Department of Economic Development. During this period, one of his private companies developed software for cameras and some equipment. A scandal broke out when it was released that his production company tried to sell the product at a pornography fair in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. He originally denied any knowledge of the event but later acknowledged that he had sent his team to try to sell equipment.
Political career
In 2002, he ran for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership, and came in second to Danny Graham. In 2004 Graham stepped down from the party's leadership for family reasons, triggering another leadership campaign. MacKenzie re-offered and won. Although serving as leader for over a year he did not attempt to win a seat in the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly until the 2006 provincial electionNova Scotia general election, 2006
The 37th Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada....
. MacKenzie led the Liberals to a poor showing; reducing their caucus to 9 MLAs. MacKenzie failed in his effort to win his own seat in Bedford
Bedford (electoral district)
Bedford-Birch Cove is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.It includes the community of Bedford.Its current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Kelly Regan....
. He said that he would meet with the president of the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia in order to discuss the future of the party. Mackenzie resigned shortly after the election, and was succeeded by Michel Samson
Michel Samson
Michel P. Samson is the Liberal MLA for Richmond.He went to high school at Isle Madame District High, where he graduated with distinction. He started his post-secondary education at Dalhousie University, obtaining his B.A. in History. Samson then attended Dalhousie Law School and in May 1997,...
on an interim basis, then Stephen McNeil
Stephen McNeil
Stephen McNeil is a Nova Scotian politician representing the riding of Annapolis in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and is the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party....
in April 2007.
The day after the election, MacKenzie suggested that the Liberals and the NDP form a coalition to topple the government and take power, with NDP leader Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter is a Canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who is serving as the 27th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. A member of the New Democratic Party, he has led the Nova Scotia NDP since 2001. He was elected Premier in 2009 after defeating...
as premier.