Peter MacKay was first elected to Parliament in 1997 and re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. 

In July 2013, Mr. MacKay was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Previously, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency in February 2006 and Minister of National Defence in August 2007.

In his first five years in the House of Commons, Mr. MacKay served as House Leader for the Progressive Conservative caucus.

On May 31, 2003, he became Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. In March 2004, he was named Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and was renamed Deputy Leader following the June 2004 election.

Before entering politics, Mr. MacKay had a private law practice in New Glasgow, specializing in criminal and family law. In 1993, he accepted an appointment as Crown Attorney for the Central Region of Nova Scotia. He prosecuted cases at all levels, including youth and provincial courts as well as the Supreme Court of Canada.

Mr. MacKay has served on volunteer boards including New Leaf and Tearmann House. As well, he has been active in Big Brothers-Big Sisters, the Pictou County Senior Rugby Club and the YMCA.

After graduating from Acadia University, Mr. MacKay went on to study law at Dalhousie University. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 1991.