Steven MacKinnon
- Born
- September 28, 1966 — Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
- Education
- Studied business at the Université de Moncton and Queen's University
- Career
- Senior Vice-President and National Practice Leader at a global public affairs consultancy firm (2007-2015)
- Political Experience
- Executive assistant and advisor to New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna (1988 to 1995), Deputy National Director and National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada, MP for Gatineau since 2015, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement (January 2017), Chief Government Whip (2021), Minister of Labour and Minister of Seniors (July 2024), Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Minister of Jobs and Families (March 14, 2025), Minister of Transport (September 16, 2025)
- Notable
- Publicly explored a bid in the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, but opted not to enter the race.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before being elected to Parliament in 2015, Steven MacKinnon had a career in communications and political strategy. He was a senior vice president at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a major public relations and government relations firm. In this role, he advised clients on navigating government processes. He also has deep roots within the Liberal Party's organizational structure, having previously served as the National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada. His professional background also includes time as an advisor to former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna.
Key Relationships & Connections
As a long-serving Liberal MP who has held senior roles, MacKinnon is considered a key member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's team, particularly within the Quebec caucus. He has served as Chief Government Whip, a position that involves enforcing party discipline and requires a close working relationship with the Prime Minister's Office and the Government House Leader. He also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, working closely with the ministers holding that portfolio. Through his previous role as National Director of the Liberal Party, he has established connections with senior party organizers and officials across the country.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
In 2017, the federal Ethics Commissioner investigated Steven MacKinnon over allegations of a potential conflict of interest. The investigation focused on a meeting he had as Parliamentary Secretary for Public Services and Procurement with a company that was a former client from his time as a lobbyist at Hill+Knowlton Strategies. The Commissioner's report concluded that while MacKinnon had not breached the Conflict of Interest Act, the situation created an appearance of preferential access. The Commissioner recommended that the rules be tightened to prevent such situations in the future. MacKinnon stated he followed all existing rules.
Public Controversies
In May 2018, Steven MacKinnon was involved in a physical altercation in the House of Commons. During a heated debate, he was accused by Conservative MP Chris Warkentin of elbowing him. The incident was captured on camera and led to a point of privilege being raised in the House. MacKinnon subsequently issued an apology in the House of Commons for the incident, stating, "I want to unreservedly apologize to my colleague... In the heat of the moment, in a scrum, I inadvertently made physical contact with the member... I regret it very much and I apologize unreservedly."
Where Steven falls on key policy spectrums
Your Money
People & Society
How We're Governed
Land & Community
Steven MacKinnon won with 34,751 votes (60.5%)
Total votes cast: 57,399
How does Steven MacKinnon's voting record line up with your values?
Mr. Speaker, Canada has the most stringent standards, laws, disclosure requirements and regulations in the whole world. Canada will always have extremely high, if not the highest, standards of ethical behaviour for public officials. That will continue to be the case, and we will continue to live by those standards.
Prime Minister Mr. Speaker, as that member knows, Canada has among the most stringent ethics requirements in the world. Those requirements are followed rigorously by theand all members on this side of the House at all times.
Mr. Speaker, I hope the House will forgive me for not being filled with optimism and a sense of freedom after those remarks. One of the things missing from that speech is that not once, and I think we all suspect why, but not once did that leader acknowledge the unjustified and illegal trade war that has been inflicted on us by our neighbours to the south. We are responding by controlling the
Mr. Speaker, Canada has among the highest ethics— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about energy investments that benefit Quebec and Canadian consumers. We are providing $6 billion in refundable tax credits to move the Churchill Falls project forward and secure a supply of renewable green energy for future generations of Quebeckers. Let us talk about energy investments and Quebec consumers. We are very much looking forward to this debate.
Mr. Speaker, no one in the House will ever match that member for describing his friendships to the world.
Mr. Speaker, Canada has among the highest ethics standards in the world. Those will continue to be maintained and vigorously adhered to.
Mr. Speaker, of course, we are all very proud to wear a poppy, while remembering those who served our country during times of war and those who continue to serve. I would like to acknowledge the people of Gatineau, many of whom work for the Department of National Defence or serve in the Canadian Armed Forces with pride and distinction. I will definitely be attending the Remembrance Day ceremonies
Prime Minister Mr. Speaker, Canada has some of the highest standards, rules and laws when it comes to ethics. Thefollows them rigorously, as do all members on this side of the House and, I assume, all members in the House.
Mr. Speaker, Canada has among the strictest ethics standards, rules and laws in the world. We adhere to them rigorously, and we always will.
Mr. Speaker, as the leader well knows, because he is subject to the same rules, Canada has world-leading rules in terms of ethics, disclosure and compliance. Of course, we will always at all times comply with the legal provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act and other applicable laws. We have the most stringent rules in the world, and obviously every member on this side of the House spends a
Mr. Speaker, we will continue to invest in clean and renewable energy, as we did with the then premier of Quebec and the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador by investing in Churchill Falls. We will continue to invest in heat pumps for households. We will continue to invest in wind and solar energy. In short, we will continue to invest in technologies that will ease the burden that fossil fuels
Mr. Speaker, as the member well knows, Canada has among the most stringent ethics guidelines and laws in the world. These measures and these rules are followed rigorously by all members on this side of the House and, indeed, I assume, all members of the House and all senior officials. The Conflict of Interest Act and other measures are constantly followed and constantly updated. We will continue
Prime Minister Mr. Speaker, the, like, I assume, all members of the House, rigorously follows all of the various kinds of ethics requirements that are in place.
Mr. Speaker, we have talked about Atlantic Canada, we have talked about Quebec, and we have talked about Ontario. Now it is time to talk about British Columbia, where I was last Friday to announce, with the help of the MPO, it must be said, the listing of Roberts Bank Terminal 2. It is a megaproject for all of Canada, with $6 billion and 17,000 jobs for British Columbians and Canadians, to export
C-39 Mr. Speaker, Ms. Picard and I agree that the Government of Canada must invest more to prevent labour disputes, lockouts and strikes. That is why Billproposes introducing special measures, special mediation, new techniques and new approaches. The goal is to ensure that not just 95%, but a much higher proportion of labour disputes are definitively resolved through collective agreements, rather
Mr. Speaker, the Major Projects Office has selected Quebec winners as well. I implore the member to support this side of the House, because we revealed the investment and the start of construction on the Contrecoeur project, which will increase the Port of Montreal's container capacity by 50%. What is that going to accomplish? It is going to create wealth, opportunities and supply chains for
Prime Minister Mr. Speaker, the, like all ministers, all members of the House and all senior officials throughout the government, must live under some of the most stringent ethics rules in the world. Declarations are filed regularly. Much attention is paid to making sure of the exactitude of all of these documents, and I would encourage all members of the House and all senior members of the