James Angus MacKinnon, PC (October 4, 1881 – April 18, 1958) was a Canadian politician who served as a Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and later Senator from Alberta.

The Hon.
James Angus MacKinnon
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Edmonton West
In office
1935–1949
Preceded byCharles Stewart
Succeeded byGeorge Prudham
Senator for Edmonton, Alberta
In office
1949–1958
Appointed byLouis St. Laurent
Personal details
Born(1881-10-04)October 4, 1881
Port Elgin, Ontario
DiedApril 18, 1958(1958-04-18) (aged 76)
Ottawa, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
CabinetMinister Without Portfolio
Minister of Trade and Commerce
Minister of National Revenue (Acting)
Minister of Fisheries
Minister of Mines and Resources

Early life

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James Agnus MacKinnon was in Port Elgin, Ontario, on October 4, 1881, to James MacKinnon and Margaret Tolmie MacKinnon, both of Scottish descent.[1]

Political life

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MacKinnon was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada representing the riding of Edmonton West in the 1935 federal election. A Liberal, he was re-elected in 1940 and 1945. He held many cabinet positions in the cabinets of William Lyon Mackenzie King and Louis Stephen St-Laurent including Minister without Portfolio, Minister of Trade and Commerce, Minister of National Revenue (Acting), Minister of Fisheries, and Minister of Mines and Resources. As Minister of Trade and Commerce during the Second World War, MacKinnon strove to orient Canadian trade policy towards Latin America when the war cut off many Canadian markets.[2]

He did not seek re-election to the House in the 1949 election. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada representing the senatorial division of Edmonton, Alberta. From 1949 to 1950, while a senator, he was a minister without portfolio in the cabinet of Louis St-Laurent.

MacKinnon died in office in 1958.[2]

Personal life

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MacKinnon married Irene Sharpe from Prince Edward Island on June 28, 1911, and had one adopted daughter, Keltie. She died on October 31, 1968, leaving her husband Denis Slattery, and five children, Sandy White (née Slattery), Gayle Slattery, John Slattery, Jim Slattery and Ann Varszegi (née Slattery).

MacKinnon was given an honorary Doctorate in Laws from the University of Alberta on October 23, 1948.[1]

Archives

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There is a James Angus MacKinnon fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Normandin, G. Pierre, ed. (1958). "The Canadian Parliamentary Guide". The Canadian Parliamentary Guide = Guide Parlementaire Canadien. Ottawa: Mortimer Company Ltd.: 94. ISBN 9781414401416. ISSN 0315-6168. OCLC 893686591. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b "James A. MacKinnon: Trade Minister In War Years, Was Senator". The Globe and Mail. Ottawa. 19 April 1958. p. 2.
  3. ^ "James Angus MacKinnon fonds, Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved 9 September 2020.
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