Bryce Mackasey

Bryce Stuart Mackasey was a Canadian politician and diplomat. He served as twice a Member of Parliament, as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec, and as ambassador to Portugal.

Career

Born in Quebec City, Quebec, Mackasey was elected as a Liberal candidate in the riding of Verdun in the 1962 Canadian [federal election|1962 federal election]. He was re-elected in the 1963, 1965, 1968, 1972, and 1974 elections. He resigned in 1976 to run in the 1976 [Quebec general election|Quebec provincial election] that year, and was elected to the Quebec National Assembly for the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. He resigned in 1978 to run in a federal by-election in the riding of Ottawa Centre, but was defeated. From 1978 to 1979, he served briefly as President of Air Canada. He was re-elected in the riding of Lincoln in the 1980 election.
Mackasey held numerous ministerial positions including Labour, Manpower and Immigration, Secretary of State, Postmaster General of Canada and Consumer and Corporate Affairs.

When Mackasey left office in 1984 Prime Minister John Turner appointed him Ambassador to Portugal; this led to Progressive [Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative] leader Brian Mulroney's famous comment about patronage, "There's no whore like an old whore". Mulroney canceled the appointment shortly after he was elected and appointed former Speaker of the House Lloyd Francis in Mackasey's place.

In 1970, Mackasey received an honorary doctorate from Sir [George Williams University], which later became Concordia University.