Murdoch MacKay
Encyclopedia
Murdoch MacKay is a lawyer
and former politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was president of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba
during the 1970s, and later joined the breakaway Progressive Party
.
His son-in-law, Paul Edwards
, was leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party from 1993 to 1996.
. He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Winnipeg
in 1950, and a Bachelor of Law degree from the Manitoba Law School in 1955. He led an inquiry into labour negotiations into the glass industry, and subsequently served as chair of the Manitoba Labour Board for seven years. He was also a member of the Manitoba Development Corporation board. Once a member of the Liberal Party
, he later joined the New Democratic Party and served as its provincial president from 1972 to 1974.
. On election night, official results showed that he had received the same number of votes as Liberal Party leader Izzy Asper
. Jim Maloway
, the returning officer
, cast a tiebreaking vote for MacKay and declared him as the elected member; a subsequent recount, however, determined that Asper actually won by four votes. Herb Schulz's memoirs indicate that MacKay would have been appointed as Justice Minister in Edward Schreyer
's government, had he been elected.
Asper resigned his seat in 1975, and MacKay contested a by-election
to replace him. He finished third against Progressive Conservative
candidate Robert Wilson in a close three-way contest. He contested Wolseley for a third time in the 1977 provincial election
, and lost to Wilson by only 74 votes.
MacKay was a founding member of the Progressive Party, which was created by former NDP cabinet minister Sidney Green in 1981. He again sought election in Wolseley in the 1981 provincial election
, and was resoundingly defeated.
structure. In 1996, he argued that Manitoba should abandon the Rand formula
of mandatory dues collection and allow workers to opt out of union membership. Peter Olfert
, president of the Manitoba Government Employees' Association, described this suggestion as regressive. In 2003, MacKay argued that Manitoba's labour laws were anti-business, and preventing economic growth.
MacKay was a founding board member of the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. The Centre's 2001 annual report lists him a lawyer with the Winnipeg firm, Duboff, Edwards, Haight and Schachter, specializing in corporate and labour law, as well as a director of Jory Capital Inc. and the Mount Caramel Clinic, and a Secretary of the Frontier Centre.
He debated former political rival Al Mackling
in a series of letters to the editor
in 2006, on the subject of collective bargaining
.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and former politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, 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...
. He was president of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
during the 1970s, and later joined the breakaway Progressive Party
Progressive Party of Manitoba (1981-1995)
The Progressive Party of Manitoba was a political party in Manitoba, Canada which existed from 1981 to 1995. The party was created in March 1981 by five former members of the province's New Democratic Party: Sidney Green, Ben Hanuschak, Bud Boyce, Murdoch Mackay and Max Hofford...
.
His son-in-law, Paul Edwards
Paul Edwards (politician)
Paul Edwards is a Manitoba politician and lawyer. He served as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party between 1993 and 1996....
, was leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party from 1993 to 1996.
Early life and career
MacKay was born in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. He received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
in 1950, and a Bachelor of Law degree from the Manitoba Law School in 1955. He led an inquiry into labour negotiations into the glass industry, and subsequently served as chair of the Manitoba Labour Board for seven years. He was also a member of the Manitoba Development Corporation board. Once a member of the Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
, he later joined the New Democratic Party and served as its provincial president from 1972 to 1974.
Political career
MacKay was the New Democratic Party's candidate for the division of Wolseley in the 1973 provincial electionManitoba general election, 1973
The Manitoba General Election of June 28, 1973 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the social-democratic New Democratic Party, which took 31 of 57 seats...
. On election night, official results showed that he had received the same number of votes as Liberal Party leader Izzy Asper
Izzy Asper
Israel Harold "Izzy" Asper, , Canadian tax lawyer and media magnate, was the founder of the now defunct CanWest Global Communications Corp and father to its former CEO and President Leonard Asper, former director and corporate secretary Gail Asper, as well as Executive Vice President David Asper...
. Jim Maloway
Jim Maloway
Peter James "Jim" Maloway is a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the Winnipeg division of Elmwood—Transcona in the 2008 federal election as a member of the New Democratic Party. He previously served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1986 to 2008,...
, the returning officer
Returning Officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.-Australia:In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a State Electoral Commission who heads the local divisional office...
, cast a tiebreaking vote for MacKay and declared him as the elected member; a subsequent recount, however, determined that Asper actually won by four votes. Herb Schulz's memoirs indicate that MacKay would have been appointed as Justice Minister in Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
's government, had he been elected.
Asper resigned his seat in 1975, and MacKay contested a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
to replace him. He finished third against Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
candidate Robert Wilson in a close three-way contest. He contested Wolseley for a third time in the 1977 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1977
The Manitoba general election of October 11, 1977 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which took 33 seats out of 57...
, and lost to Wilson by only 74 votes.
MacKay was a founding member of the Progressive Party, which was created by former NDP cabinet minister Sidney Green in 1981. He again sought election in Wolseley in the 1981 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1981
The Manitoba general election of November 17, 1981 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the opposition New Democratic Party, which took 34 of 57 seats. The governing Progressive Conservative Party took the remaining 23, while the...
, and was resoundingly defeated.
After politics
MacKay was also part-owner of Superior Cheese Canada Ltd. in the 1980s. He initially supported a union shop for the plant, but later announced that he had "second thoughts" and argued for an open shopOpen shop
An open shop is a place of employment at which one is not required to join or financially support a union as a condition of hiring or continued employment...
structure. In 1996, he argued that Manitoba should abandon the Rand formula
Rand formula
In Canadian labour law, the Rand formula is a workplace situation where the payment of trade union dues is mandatory regardless of the worker's union status...
of mandatory dues collection and allow workers to opt out of union membership. Peter Olfert
Peter Olfert
Peter Olfert is a labour leader in Manitoba, Canada. He has been president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union since 1986. He has also served as a vice-president of the National Union of Public and General Employees.Olfert was raised in a Mennonite family in Steinbach, and...
, president of the Manitoba Government Employees' Association, described this suggestion as regressive. In 2003, MacKay argued that Manitoba's labour laws were anti-business, and preventing economic growth.
MacKay was a founding board member of the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. The Centre's 2001 annual report lists him a lawyer with the Winnipeg firm, Duboff, Edwards, Haight and Schachter, specializing in corporate and labour law, as well as a director of Jory Capital Inc. and the Mount Caramel Clinic, and a Secretary of the Frontier Centre.
He debated former political rival Al Mackling
Al Mackling
Alvin Mackling, a retired lawyer, born December 31, 1927 in Winnipeg, Manitoba is a longtime Democratic Socialist. He was an alderman in the former city of St. James from 1961 to 1969 and was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1969 to 1973 and from 1981 to 1988...
in a series of letters to the editor
Letter to the editor
A letter to the editor is a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern from its readers. Usually, letters are intended for publication...
in 2006, on the subject of collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
.