Alexander Grant MacKay - Alberta Politics

Alberta Politics

MacKay ran for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the first time in the 1913 Alberta general election resigning his Ontario Legislature seat as soon as the writ was dropped. MacKay ran in the Edmonton electoral district and was defeated finishing a very close 3rd place in the block vote. After his defeat he then ran as the candidate in the differed Athabasca election on July 30, 1913. In his second attempt at office he defeated Conservative candidate Mayor of Athabasca James Wood by a comfortable margin to win his first term in office. MacKay spent his first term in the Legislature as a back bencher for the government.

MacKay would stand for re-election in the 1917 Alberta general election. This time he would be returned to his second term in a landslide victory over Conservative candidate A.F. Fugl.

MacKay would be appointed to the provincial cabinet on August 26, 1918. He would assume the portfolio of Minister of Municipal Affairs from Wilfrid Gariépy. He would be acclaimed and confirmed to his portfolio in a ministerial by-election on September 27, 1918. MacKay was given a second portfolio on June 19, 1919. He would be appointed as Alberta's first Minister of Health. He served both portfolios until he died of pneumonia in the Edmonton General Hospital April 25, 1920.