Mackinnon "Mac" Phillips (December 9, 1898 – June 14, 1963) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1945 to 1963 who represented the central Ontario riding of Grey North. He served as cabinet minister in the government of Leslie Frost.

Mac Phillips
Ontario MPP
In office
1945–1963
Preceded byRoland Patterson
Succeeded byEddie Sargent
ConstituencyGrey North
Personal details
Born(1889-04-09)April 9, 1889
Dundalk, Ontario
DiedJune 14, 1963(1963-06-14) (aged 64)
Owen Sound, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseErla MacKay
Children2
OccupationPhysician
Military service
AllegianceCanadian
Branch/serviceRoyal Canadian Artillery
Years of service1917-1918
Unit45th Battery

Background

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Phillips was born in Dundalk, Ontario. He served in World War I with the 45th battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery. He graduated from the University of Toronto and began work as a physician in the Owen Sound, Ontario area. In 1926, he married Erla MacKay of Fort William. Together they raised two children.[1][2] He died of a heart attack on June 14, 1963.[3]

Politics

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In the 1945 provincial election, Phillips ran as the PC candidate in the riding of Grey North. He defeated Liberal Roland Patterson by 592 votes.[4] He was re-elected four more times before his death in 1963. On August 8, 1950, Phillips was appointed as Minister of Health replacing Russell Kelley who was in ill-health.[5] He stayed in this portfolio through much of the 1950s. He was responsible for helping to organize the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, instituting a program to certify nurse's assistants and laying the foundation for the province's mental health hospitals.[3] On December 22, 1958 he was shuffled to Provincial Secretary and Registrar.[6]

Cabinet positions

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Ontario provincial government of Leslie Frost
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
George Dunbar Provincial Secretary and Registrar
1958-1960
John Yaremko
Russell Kelley Minister of Health
1950-1958
Matthew Dymond

References

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  1. ^ P.G. Normandin (1965). Canadian Parliamentary Guide.
  2. ^ "Sorry for Accident, Dr.Phillips Resigns". The Globe and Mail. May 13, 1960. p. 1.
  3. ^ a b "Dr. Mackinnon Phillips: Served Frost Cabinet As Health Minister". The Globe and Mail. June 17, 1963. p. 3.
  4. ^ Canadian Press (June 5, 1945). "How Ontario Electors Voted in all 90 Ridings". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. p. 5.
  5. ^ "Phillips Appointed Kelley Retained Without Portfolio". The Globe and Mail. August 4, 1950. p. 5.
  6. ^ "4 New Ministers Are Included In 10 Ontario Cabinet Changes". The Globe and Mail. December 23, 1958. p. 5.
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