Gord Mackintosh

Gord Mackintosh (July 7, 1955-) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is currently a Cabinet Minister in the government of New Democratic Premier Gary Doer.

Mackintosh was born in Fort Frances, northwestern Ontario, and was educated at the University of Manitoba. He trained as a lawyer, and was called to the bar in 1988.

Mackintosh worked for the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission between 1979 and 1984, and also worked as Deputy Clerk of the Manitoba legislature from 1980 to 1984. He was chair of the Patient's Rights Committee from 1986 to 1992, and was a member of the Rainbow Society and the Manitoba Anti-Poverty Organization. In his legal career, he specialized in environmental issues, and was also an assistant to Elijah Harper during the Meech Lake constitutional debates of 1990.

Mackintosh entered provincial politics in September 1993, winning a by-election in the north Winnipeg riding of St. Johns (replacing Judy Wasylycia-Leis, who resigned to run for the federal House of Commons). Mackintosh won 3232 votes, compared to 878 for his nearest opponent, Liberal Naty Yenkech.

In 1995, Mackintosh was re-elected in St. Johns with 4513 votes, against 1610 for Liberal Bron Gorski. The election was won by Gary Filmon's Progressive Conservatives, and Mackintosh joined 22 other New Democrats in the official opposition.

The New Democrats won the election of 1999, and Mackintosh was easily re-elected in his own riding. On October 5, he was appointed Minister of Justice, Attorney General and Keeper of the Great Seal with responsibility for Constitutional Affairs, and was also named NDP House Leader. On January 17, 2001, he was charged with responsibility for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act. As of late 2004, he continues to hold all of these positions.

As Attorney General, Mackintosh has overseen the extension of children's rights in the legal system, and has created Cybertip.ca to report on online predators and child pornography. In addition, Mackintosh has overseen new initiatives in aboriginal and community justice, and has made efforts to target organized crime in Manitoba.

The New Democrats were re-elected in 2003, and Mackintosh was returned in St. Johns with over 72% of the vote.