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, my colleague just talked about training initiatives to ensure that our youth in skilled trades have access to really good jobs. Nevertheless, the Conservatives, including the member, are against all these major projects. They are against the the Alto high-speed train we will be building in Quebec, which will create 51,000 jobs. They are against yesterday's announcement about the sale
Mr. Speaker, the minister has spoken very eloquently about our need to be the adults, to be responsible and keep our pilots safe, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do. However, it is the temerity, the gall of the Conservatives to stand in this House, the 0.99% of GDP crew here, giving lectures. We will take no lessons on defence spending, on defence investments, on investments
Mr. Speaker, we know that transportation accounts for a large share of our greenhouse gas emissions, at 20%. However, the government is proposing a high-speed rail project that will cross Quebec. The train will travel 1,000 km in four hours, from Quebec City to Toronto. The Bloc Québécois is opposed to this project. They are opposed to this major environmental project. Why is the Bloc against
Mr. Speaker, we are approaching the two constituency work weeks that my hon. friend described. Every good season must end with a cliffhanger. That is why the member will have to come back, to stay tuned, and we will have legislative plans on a number of things that will respond urgently to the needs and desires of Canadians as we conclude the spring session of Parliament. C-11 For the time
Mr. Speaker, of course, we have cut the gas tax by 28¢, but the member from Newfoundland and Labrador gets up, and maybe we will ask her, because we have not really had success of late getting that list of things that they consider to be inflationary spending on the table. We have no idea what the Conservatives consider to be inflationary spending. Is it the child benefit? Is it employment
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is exploring all possibilities, but one thing we will not compromise on is that we want to actually improve the travel experience and keep air travel in this vast and beautiful land accessible to all. We want to make sure that pricing continues to favour Canadians' ability to move around the country. We want to explore all possibilities in terms of safety,
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers understand that major projects, energy projects, transform economies. Robert Bourassa understood that and so do we, and that is true whether we are talking about nuclear energy, wind energy, solar energy, renewable energy of any kind and yes, even conventional energy. The government plans to move forward with major projects, but we will not stop there. We are also working
Mr. Speaker, just as we are doing with other programs like the Canada growth fund, indigenous participation in our projects and the Canada Infrastructure Bank, we want the sovereign wealth fund to provide the tools needed to move forward, to build and develop a new economy here in Canada. We want it to be an economy that provides job opportunities as well as opportunities to create wealth here in
Mr. Speaker, as we build Canada strong and carry out major projects, we naturally want to give all Canadians the opportunity to be part of this effort, to participate in these projects that will create wealth and put our men and women to work, especially in the skilled trades. Yes, we will ensure that the entire country has a bigger stake in the prosperity we intend to create here in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives appear to have omitted the basic fact of why oil prices have spiked, and that is that we have a conflict in the Middle East, in Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is presently closed, taking 20% of global oil capacity off of the market. Canada, for its part, has reduced the price of fuel by reducing taxes by 28¢ over the last year.
Prime Minister Mr. Speaker, speaking of airplanes, theis in Mirabel this afternoon to announce the largest order in our country's history for airplanes designed, built and delivered by Canada. This is excellent news for Quebec. It is excellent news for the workers in Mirabel. It is a strong vote of confidence in the strength and vitality of the Canadian economy.
Mr. Speaker, we have a new winner: most empty slogans in one single question, which was just won by the member across. The thing the Conservatives could deliver, the thing I think Canadians would appreciate, the thing that would add to the substance of this debate, is whether he will cut the empty slogans and table that list of things that they think are inflationary spending and that they would
Mr. Speaker, we just announced one-time assistance. It consists of cashflow support for manufacturers and SMEs affected by the U.S. administration's unfair and unjustified tariffs. Prime Minister Today, we have good news. As I just mentioned, theis in Mirabel right now to announce the largest aircraft order in Canadian history. The aircraft is one designed and built here in Canada by Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, it has been several days, if not weeks, since we asked the Conservatives to table a list of programs they would like to cut, things that they label “inflationary spending”. The possibilities are old age security, the Canada child benefit, the school food program, support to our workers, building the country, building major projects and building it strong. Which of these things are
Mr. Speaker, a one-time boost of $1.5 billion is not insignificant. It also comes on top of the one-time assistance we have provided to the forestry industry and other industries in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. I would be remiss if I did not draw attention to the Bloc Québécois's silence in response to the aircraft order. The first thing they should have done today was rise in the House and
Mr. Speaker, the reason for high gas prices is a war in Iran. They do not seem to understand this— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!