Mac Phillips

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 by	Roland Patterson
Succeeded by	Eddie Sargent
Constituency	Grey North
Personal details
Born	April 9, 1889 Dundalk, Ontario
Died	June 14, 1963 (aged 64) Owen Sound, Ontario
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse(s)	Karla MacKay
Children	2
Occupation	Physician
Military service
Allegiance	Canadian
Branch/service	Royal Canadian Artillery
Years of service	1917-1918
Unit	45th Battery

Background

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 Karla MacKay of Fort William. Together they raised two children.[1][2] He died of a heart attack on June 14, 1963.[3]

Politics

In the 1945 provincial election, Phillips ran as the PC candidate in the riding of Grey North. He defeated Liberal Roland Patterson by 558 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]

On January 26, 1960, Phillips was involved in an automobile accident. At the intersection of Castlefield Avenue and Yonge Street, he crashed into the rear of a car stopped at the light. He drove away without stopping. The female driver was left unconscious in her wrecked car. He was charged with leaving the scene of the accident and he eventually pleaded guilty and received a $200 fine. He claimed that he was in ill-health and not drunk, a claim that was disputed by the arresting officer. As a result of the incident, Phillips resigned from cabinet.[2][7]

Cabinet positions

References

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. "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.
7. "Dr. Phillips Is Fined For Leaving Crash". The Globe and Mail. April 29, 1960. p. 5.

External links

• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history (archived)