2021-07-07

Chester-St. Margaret’s MLA not seeking re-election

Chester-St. Margaret's MLA Hugh MacKay has decided not to seek re-election, calling an end to his personally difficult tenure as an elected official after just one term.

The 66-year-old, who was first elected in 2017 under the Liberal banner, says he's content with his work supporting health care issues pertaining to access and recruitment, along with business and tourism files. He credits his constituency staff for the heavy lifting and admits he will miss the teamwork that involved some highly motivated individuals.

MacKay reached the conclusion about his political future months ago during a period when legal and deeply personal challenges were well documented. He chose June 28 to make his decision public. He thanked supporters, family, staff and others for being a part of a "wonderful chapter in his professional life" that he will reflect on with pleasure and with what was accomplished.

"A political life is all-consuming," he told LighthouseNOW in a phone interview. "It's seven days-a-week and you're full on, and I felt in order to focus on the priorities, being my health and my family, that I had to step away from political life."

MacKay, who lives in Hubbards, said he will stay on until the next provincial election is called.

"Some people will, unfortunately, think my legacy is that of my own personal health and legal situations I faced. There's a very strong stigma for people with addiction."

MacKay failed a breathalyser test during the Thanksgiving weekend in 2019 and received a court-ordered fine and a temporary driving ban. This ended a period of sobriety of about 15 years for the politician, who is battling alcohol addiction.

He resigned from the McNeil Liberal caucus in February 2020 after a new drunk driving allegation came to light. MacKay is challenging the charge and a trial is slated for January.

"In two weeks time, I'll be recognizing a full year of sobriety, and I look forward to marking that with friends," he told LighthouseNOW of the upcoming milestone, noting he faces the legal challenges ahead "with a clear mind and focus on my health and well being."

MacKay said dealing with addiction is hard, and he underlined the importance of asking for and receiving help. "With any addiction, the first days, weeks and months are the most challenging," he explained.

"If one avails themselves of supports and services available - through government and organizations that are there to assist people - if one really wants to make a difference, I would suggest that people get in contact with those services, because it's a tough road. It's a tough road to do on your own, but if you surround yourself with those who have been there and done it it gets much easier.

MacKay continued, "it's not easy, you have to start with yourself. You have to recognize and acknowledge your challenge and do some hard work to get past it. One of the great ways of maintaining your own sobriety is to help others who are in that unfortunate situation and, by assisting others, you end up assisting yourself."

Will his name appear on a ballot again? "Not politically," he said, noting he is happy for the opportunity to bear witness to the inner-workings of the elected provincial system.

As for sitting as an independent MLA, "it's lonely," he admitted, but he valued his time in the Liberal caucus. "When you're on a team, there's so much work you can do together with your colleagues, and you can accomplish more together that you can independently. However, I do believe the years I served as a Liberal MLA in government I was able to bring things to the forefront, so I felt it was a very positive time there."

Chester-St. Margaret's will see Jacob Killawee running for the Grits, while Danielle Barkhouse is the Progressive Conservative candidate. At the time of this writing, Nova Scotia's other major political party, the NDP, had not confirmed a candidate.

MacKay looks forward to resuming his private sector career in geomatics surveying and mapping technologies in a consultative role as he begins what he calls a "pre-retirement" phase.

On a personal level, he looks forward to welcoming his first grandchild in the weeks ahead.