Janice MacKinnon

{{Short description|Canadian historian and politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | image =  | honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]] | name = Janice MacKinnon | honorific_suffix = [[Member of the Order of Canada|CM]] [[Executive Council of Saskatchewan|ECS]] [[Saskatchewan Order of Merit|SOM]] [[Royal Society of Canada|FRSC]] | caption = | birth_name = Janice Potter | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|1|30}} | birth_place = [[Kitchener, Ontario]] | alma_mater = [[University of Western Ontario]]<br />[[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]] | constituency_AM = [[Saskatoon Centre|Saskatoon Idylwyld]] | assembly = Saskatchewan Legislative | term_start = June 21, 1995 | term_end = September 30, 2001 | predecessor = [[Eric Cline]] | successor = [[David Forbes (politician)|David Forbes]] | constituency_AM1 = [[Saskatoon Massey Place|Saskatoon Westmount]] | assembly1 = Saskatchewan Legislative | term_start1 = October 21, 1991 | term_end1 = June 21, 1995 | predecessor1 = [[John Edward Brockelbank]] | successor1 = [[Eric Cline]]<ref>Saskatoon Mount Royal</ref> | party = [[Saskatchewan New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]] | occupation = Academic }}

'''Janice MacKinnon,''' [[Order of Canada|C.M.]], [[Saskatchewan Order of Merit|S.O.M.]], [[Royal Society of Canada|FRSC]] (born January 30, 1947) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] academic and former politician who served as a Member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]] (MLA) from 1991 to 2001, and as [[Finance minister|Minister of Finance]] under [[Saskatchewan New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]] Premier [[Roy Romanow]]. She is currently a professor in the School of Public Health at the [[University of Saskatchewan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Primary and Joint faculty |url=https://sph.usask.ca/people/faculty/primary-joint-profile-list.php |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=University of Saskatchewan School of Public Health}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Born Janice Potter in [[Kitchener, Ontario]], she attended [[Huron University College]] of the [[University of Western Ontario]], which awarded her a bachelor's degree in 1969. She went on to earn a master's degree and doctorate from [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]]. She joined the University of Saskatchewan in 1975.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2013-09-12 |title=U of S Professor Janice MacKinnon named as one of Canada's Top 25 Women of Influence |work=University of Saskatchewan |url=https://news.usask.ca/media-release-pages/2013/u-of-s-professor-janice-mackinnon-named-as-one-of-canadas-top-25-women-of-influence1.php |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107190500/https://news.usask.ca/media-release-pages/2013/u-of-s-professor-janice-mackinnon-named-as-one-of-canadas-top-25-women-of-influence1.php |archive-date=2016-11-07}}</ref>

==Political career== From 1991 to 2001, MacKinnon was a Member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]] (MLA). In addition to being Minister of Finance from 1993 to 1997, she also held the following ministerial positions at various times: Minister of Social Services, Minister of Economic and Co-operative Development, Minister Responsible for Trade, Research and Investment, and Government House Leader. As Finance Minister, she was known by the nickname "Combat Barbie" for her conviction to cut spending in a bid to recover the province's finances, which were in near ruin when [[Grant Devine]]'s [[Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan|Progressive Conservative]] government was swept from power in 1991.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Simpson |first=Jeffrey |date=2003-05-10 |title=Fiscal lessons from 'Combat Barbie' |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/fiscal-lessons-from-combat-barbie/article750500/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011165655/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/fiscal-lessons-from-combat-barbie/article750500/ |archive-date=2023-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Although MacKinnon has at times been called Canada's first female finance minister, Bette Stephenson became Ontario's treasurer in 1985—effectively the province's finance minister |last2=Ferrier MacKay |first2=Susan |date=2019-09-06 |title=Dr. Bette Stephenson, 95, was a trailblazer in Ontario politics with many 'first female' titles to her name |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-dr-bette-stephenson-95-was-a-trailblazer-in-ontario-politics-with/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005154212/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-dr-bette-stephenson-95-was-a-trailblazer-in-ontario-politics-with/ |archive-date=2019-10-05}}</ref>

MacKinnon resigned from the Cabinet of new NDP leader [[Lorne Calvert]] on March 2, 2001, and resigned her seat in the Legislature on September 30. [[David Forbes (politician)|David Forbes]] replaced her when he won a November 8 by-election. In 2003, she published a book entitled ''Minding the Public Purse'' about her time as Finance Minister and fiscal policy in Canada.<ref name=":1" />

In 2003, MacKinnon was rumoured to be considering running for the [[Liberal Party of Canada]] in the following year's [[2004 Canadian federal election|federal election]], but she ultimately declined.<ref>{{cite news |last=Simpson |first=Jeffrey |date=2003-09-04 |title=A chance to change the political map |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/a-chance-to-change-the-political-map/article772138/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103160015/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/a-chance-to-change-the-political-map/article772138/ |archive-date=2022-11-03}}</ref>

== Post-political life and career == After resigning from the Saskatchewan Legislature, MacKinnon returned to teaching at the University of Saskatchewan.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=MacKinnon, Janice, 1947- |url=https://search.saskarchives.com/mackinnon-janice-1947 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413052623/https://search.saskarchives.com/mackinnon-janice-1947 |archive-date=2021-04-13 |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=[[Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan]]}}</ref>

She is chair of the board of directors of the [[Institute for Research on Public Policy]]. She also sits on the board of directors for the [[Canada West Foundation]].<ref>Canada West Foundation List of Board of Directors, [http://www.cwf.ca/V2/cnt/about_board.php Accessed 22 May 2008.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429211948/http://www.cwf.ca/V2/cnt/about_board.php|date=29 April 2008}}</ref> In 2008, MacKinnon was named Chair of the Board of Investment Saskatchewan, a Saskatchewan Crown Corporation managing investment capital and financing.<ref>Regina Leader Post, [http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=ee29d0ac-dc26-4ed0-a42e-6aaa743b507c&k=33863 January 25, 2008]; {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317194436/http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=ee29d0ac-dc26-4ed0-a42e-6aaa743b507c&k=33863 |date=March 17, 2012 }} [http://www.investsask.com/board_officers.php Investment Saskatchewan.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070424175735/http://www.investsask.com/board_officers.php |date=2007-04-24 }}</ref>

MacKinnon sits as an advisor to [[Canada's Ecofiscal Commission]], was appointed as chair of the [[MacKinnon Report|Blue Ribbon Panel on Alberta’s Finances]] by Alberta Premier [[Jason Kenney]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Graney |first=Emma |date=2019-07-25 |title=Mackinnon made 'draconian' cuts in Saskatchewan, but says Alberta in better shape |work=[[National Post]] |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/janice-mackinnon-the-woman-charged-with-fixing-albertas-finances/wcm/e4035a9e-d396-4828-8a47-1f054105f445 |access-date=2023-10-11}}</ref> and was named to the first tribunal formed under the [[Saskatchewan First Act]], which was tasked with examining the economic impact of proposed federal clean electricity regulations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Simes |first=Jeremy |date=2023-11-28 |title=Provincial government uses Sask. First Act for 1st time to review federal electricity regulations |work=CBC News |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-first-act-clean-electricity-regulations-1.7042841 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129050754/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-first-act-clean-electricity-regulations-1.7042841 |archive-date=2023-11-29}}</ref> MacKinnon also serves as a member of the University of Alberta's Board of Governors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=French |first=Janet |date=Mar 4, 2020 |title=Janice MacKinnon appointed to University of Alberta board of governors |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/janice-mackinnon-appointed-to-university-of-alberta-board-of-governors-1.5486269 |work=CBC News}}</ref>

In 2024, during a meeting of the University of Alberta Board of Governors, MacKinnon proposed eliminating the University of Alberta's EDI Office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liddle |first=Hannah |date=2025-01-28 |title=Inside the University of Alberta's move away from equity, diversity and inclusion |url=https://universityaffairs.ca/news/inside-the-university-of-albertas-move-away-from-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=University Affairs |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life== MacKinnon is married to [[Peter MacKinnon]], a former president of the University of Saskatchewan. They were married in 1974 and have two children.<ref name=":2" />

In 2005, MacKinnon was made a Fellow of the [[Royal Society of Canada]]. In 2012, she was named to the [[Order of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=MacPherson |first=Colleen |date=2013-01-10 |title=Janice MacKinnon named to Order of Canada |work=University of Saskatchewan |url=https://news.usask.ca/articles/people/2013/janice-mackinnon-named-to-order-of-canada.php |access-date=2023-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007170305/https://news.usask.ca/articles/people/2013/janice-mackinnon-named-to-order-of-canada.php |archive-date=2016-10-07}}</ref> In 2013, she was named one of the Top 25 women of influence in Canada's public sector.<ref name=":0" />

== Electoral record == {{Canadian election result/top|SK|1999|Saskatoon Centre|Saskatoon Idylwyld|percent=yes}} {{CANelec|SK|NDP|Janice Mackinnon|3,144|53.89}} {{CANelec|SK|Saskatchewan|Martin Boser|1,333|22.85}} {{CANelec|SK|Liberal|Tim Ponto|977|16.75}} {{CANelec|SK|New Green Alliance|Maisie Shiell|258|4.42}} {{CANelec|SK|PC|Kenneth J. Klassen|122|2.09}} {{Canadian election result/total|Total|5,834|100.00}} {{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1995|Saskatoon Centre|Saskatoon Idylwyld|percent=yes}} {{CANelec|SK|NDP|Janice Mackinnon|4,064|62.94}} {{CANelec|SK|Liberal|Bonnye Georgia|1,646|25.49}} {{CANelec|SK|PC|Kent Latimer|747|11.57}} {{Canadian election result/total|Total|6,457|100.00}} {{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1991|Saskatoon Westmount|percent=yes}} {{CANelec|SK|NDP|Janice Mackinnon|5,505|65.33}} {{CANelec|SK|Liberal|Myron Luczka|1,913|22.70}} {{CANelec|SK|PC|George Turanich|1,008|11.96}} {{Canadian election result/total|Total|8,426|100.00}} {{end}}

==Notes== <references />

==Selected bibliography== * ''The Liberty We Seek: Loyalist Ideology in Colonial New York and Massachusetts'' (1983) ({{ISBN|0674530268}}) * ''While the Women Only Wept: Loyalist Refugee Women'' (1993) ({{ISBN|0773513175}}) * ''Minding the Public Purse: The Fiscal Crisis, Political Trade-offs and Canada's Future'' (2003) ({{ISBN|0773527494}})

==References== * {{cite web|url=http://www.irpp.org/about/mackinnon.htm |title=Janice MacKinnon, Chair |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714161111/http://www.irpp.org/about/mackinnon.htm |archivedate=2007-07-14 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackinnon, Janice}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Women government ministers of Canada]] [[Category:Deputy premiers of Saskatchewan]] [[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada]] [[Category:Ministers of finance of Saskatchewan]] [[Category:Queen's University at Kingston alumni]] [[Category:Saskatchewan New Democratic Party MLAs]] [[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Saskatchewan]] [[Category:Academic staff of the University of Saskatchewan]] [[Category:University of Western Ontario alumni]] [[Category:Politicians from Kitchener, Ontario]] [[Category:Politicians from Saskatoon]] [[Category:Female finance ministers]] [[Category:Women MLAs in Saskatchewan]] [[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]] [[Category:20th-century Canadian women politicians]] [[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]] [[Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians]] [[Category:Canadian women historians]] [[Category:20th-century Canadian historians]] [[Category:21st-century Canadian historians]] [[Category:Historians from Ontario]]