Ron MacKinley

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Ronald W. "Ronnie" MacKinley is a Prince Edward Island Liberal politician, and a current member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island.

Before running for office, MacKinley worked as a farmer in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island. Apart from owning and operating his own personal farm, he co-owns MacKinley Brothers beef farm with his mother and his son. He is married, and has three children, and two grandchildren.

MacKinley has served as vice-chair of the Elliot River CIC; as a director of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture and of the P.E.I. Farm Centre. In addition to this, he is a former member of the Canadian Horticultural Council Labour Board and Uniform Legislation Board, as well as a former Queens County Chair for the P.E.I. Potato Producers' Association.

MacKinley has enjoyed a long political career, especially for a Canadian politician who has never served in Cabinet. He was first elected to represent his riding in a 1985 by-election, and has served continuously ever since, for a career of more than 20 years (his riding was changed to. He is easily the longest-serving member of the current Legislature. In the 2003 election, MacKinley had the second-largest margin of victory, and was also one of only two MLAs to have a victory margin of over 1000 votes.

In the 2000 provincial election, MacKinley was the sole Liberal MLA elected, and also the only Opposition MLA. As a result of this, he served as Leader of the Opposition and de facto Liberal leader until 2003, when he was replaced in both capacities by Robert Ghiz. MacKinley has served as Opposition Critic for Transportation and Public Works, Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture; he was the Chairman of the important Public Accounts Committee of the legislature, which must always be chaired by a member of the Opposition.

On 12 June 2007, MacKinley assumed office as Minister of Transportation and Public Works, serving under PEI Premier Robert Ghiz.

Preceded by
Robert Lloyd George MacPhail, Progressive Conservative
Councillor for 2nd Queens
1985–1996
Succeeded by
district abolished
Preceded by
district created
MLA for North River-Rice Point
1996–2007
Succeeded by
district abolished
Preceded by
district created
MLA for Cornwall-Meadowbank
2007–present
Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by
Keith Milligan
Leader of the Opposition
2000–2003
Succeeded by
Robert Ghiz
Preceded by
Wayne Carew
PEI Liberal Leader (interim)
2000–2003
Succeeded by
Robert Ghiz

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