Bob Mackenzie | |
---|---|
Ontario MPP | |
In office 1975–1995 |
|
Preceded by | Reg Gisborn |
Succeeded by | Dominic Agostino |
Constituency | Hamilton East |
Personal details | |
Born |
Robert Warren Mackenzie June 6, 1928 Orillia, Ontario |
Died | January 17, 2011 | (aged 82)
Political party | New Democrat |
Spouse(s) | Sylvia |
Children | 6 |
Occupation | Labour union executive |
Robert Warren (Bob) Mackenzie (June 26, 1928 – January 17, 2011) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1995, and a prominent cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.
Mackenzie was a longtime member of Canada's union movement. He was raised in western Quebec, and quit school after grade seven to work at the E.B. Eddy Company paper mill in Hull. He later worked as a merchant seaman, and claims that he was introduced to social democracy in this period by a Scandinavian co-worker. He later moved to Windsor, Ontario, and worked in an auto plant. Finally settling in Hamilton, he was a member of the United Steelworkers of America Local 5328 and an executive member of the Hamilton and District Labour Council. His son Andrew Mackenzie ran for the Hamilton East seat, but was defeated by Liberal Dominic Agostino. His son David was a personal advisor to New Democratic Party leader, Jack Layton. He had four other children.
Mackenzie ran for provincial office in the provincial election of 1955, as a candidate of the Ontario CCF in the riding of Windsor—Walkerville. He finished second, losing to Progressive Conservative M.C. Davies by about 3,000 votes.