Peter the Resilient

Lee Berthiaume tries to figure out why Peter MacKay is still the Defence Minister.

Whether Harper decided to leave MacKay untouched because of his importance to the party, his ties to the Atlantic region, because he’d done a good job or to prove a point is a matter of sharp debate. What is not is MacKay’s record for emerging unscathed when the consensus among pundits and experts seems to be his time has come.

"None of this has been an easy ride for Peter MacKay," said author Bob Plamondon, who has written several books about the Conservative Party. "But it’s a testament to his resilience that he’s been able to take these hits."