Robert Warren (Bob) Mackenzie (June 26, 1928 – January 17, 2011) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1995, and a prominent cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae. Background Mackenzie was a longtime member of Canada's union movement. He was raised in western Quebec, and quit school after grade seven to work at the E.B. Eddy Company paper mill in Hull. He later worked as a merchant seaman, and claims that he was introduced to social democracy in this period by a Scandinavian co-worker. He later moved to Windsor, Ontario, and worked in an auto plant. Finally settling in Hamilton, he was a member of the United Steelworkers of America Local 5328 and an executive member of the Hamilton and District Labour Council. His son Andrew Mackenzie ran for the Hamilton East seat, but was defeated by Liberal Dominic Agostino. His son David was a personal advisor to New Democratic Party leader, Jack Layton. He had four other children. Politics Mackenzie ran for provincial office in the provincial election of 1955, as a candidate of the Ontario CCF in the riding of Windsor—Walkerville. He finished second, losing to Progressive Conservative M.C. Davies by about 3,000 votes. He ran for the House of Commons of Canada for the federal New Democratic Party in the 1972 federal election, but finished third in the riding of Hamilton—Wentworth in a close three-way race. He ran again in the 1974 federal election, and lost by a wider margin. Progressive Conservative candidate Sean O'Sullivan won the riding on both occasions. In opposition Mackenzie was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1975, winning the working class riding of Hamilton East by a wide margin. He was re-elected in the elections of 1977, 1981, 1985, 1987 and 1990. The only time he faced a serious challenge was in 1985, when Liberal Shirley Collins came within 1,600 votes of defeating him. On all other occasions, he won by significant margins. Mackenzie supported Bob Rae for the NDP leadership in 1982. Following the inconclusive 1985 election, the NDP under Bob Rae allowed the Liberal Party under David Peterson to form a minority government, which lasted for two years. Mackenzie was part of a minority group in the NDP caucus that recommended supporting the Progressive Conservatives instead, on the grounds