Ron McKinnon | |
Office1: | Chair of the Standing Committee on Health |
Term Start1: | January 29, 2020 |
Term End1: | September 20, 2021 |
Riding: | Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam |
Parliament: | Canadian |
Term Start: | October 19, 2015 |
Predecessor: | James Moore |
Birth Date: | 8 August 1951 |
Birth Place: | Alberta |
Profession: | Computer Systems Analyst |
Alma Mater: | University of Alberta Southern Alberta Institute of Technology |
Party: | Liberal |
Residence: | Port Coquitlam, British Columbia |
Kenneth Ronald McKinnon[1] (born August 8, 1951) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election,[2] and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021.
Born in Alberta, McKinnon holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and an honours diploma in Computer Technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.[3] [4]
A supporter of electoral reform, McKinnon has proposed Canada adopt a ranked pairs voting system.[5]
Ron McKinnon served as a member of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights as a member of the Standing Committee on Health in the 42nd Canadian Parliament. In the 43rd Parliament, McKinnon was elected Chair of the Standing Committee on Health. In the 44th Parliament, he was appointed to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security and was elected to chair the committee, and as a member the Standing Committee on Science and Research.
In the 42nd Canadian Parliament, McKinnon introduced Bill C-224, the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act in the House of Commons on February 22, 2016. The bill amended the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to grant immunity for possession of controlled substances when someone calls for emergency medical assistance when someone is experiencing a drug overdose, so fear of arrest will not prevent people from seeking the necessary medical care.[6] The bill was adopted on May 4, 2017, with all parties supporting the bill.
In the 44th Canadian Parliament, McKinnon introduced Bill C-316, the Court Challenges Program Act, which would enshrine the Court Challenges Program into Canadian law, providing stability and certainty to the program and ensuring that it continues to exist and operate predictably. That, in turn, would give greater protection to the rights of Canadians, as individuals and organizations would have a reliable means of challenging laws and regulations that they believe violate their rights.
He is married to Christine and has two daughters, Katherine and Sarah.