Melvin McQuaid

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=Melvin James McQuaid

| image=Melvin McQuaid.png

| caption= Official 1968 portrait

| birth_date={{birth date|df=yes|1911|9|6}}

| birth_place=Souris, Prince Edward Island

| death_date={{death date and age|df=yes|2001|1|16|1911|9|6}}

| death_place=

| spouse=Catherine Handrahan (m. 15 September 1947, predeceased){{cite book | title=Canadian Parliamentary Guide | year=1970 | first=Pierre G. | last=Normandin}}

| residence=

| office=MLA (Councillor) for 1st Kings

| term_start=1 September 1959

| term_end=10 December 1962

| predecessor=Brenton St. John

| successor=Daniel J. MacDonald

| term_start2=4 December 1972

| term_end2=1 July 1976

| predecessor2=Daniel J. MacDonald

| successor2=James Bernard Fay

| office3=Member of Parliament for King's

| term_start3=8 November 1965

| term_end3=25 June 1968

| predecessor3=John Mullally

| successor3=riding dissolved

| office4=Member of Parliament for Cardigan

| term_start4=25 June 1968

| term_end4=1 September 1972

| predecessor4=riding created

| successor4=Daniel J. MacDonald

| office5 = Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island

| term_start5 =2 February 1973

| term_end5 =1 July 1976

| predecessor5 = George Key

| successor5 = Lloyd MacPhail (interim)

| profession=lawyer, clerk

| party=Progressive Conservative

| footnotes=

| website=

}}

Melvin James McQuaid (6 September 1911 – 16 January 2001) was a Progressive Conservative party member of the House of Commons of Canada. He was born in Souris, Prince Edward Island and became a lawyer and clerk by career.

McQuaid attended Saint Dunstan's University, St. Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie Law School.

In 1957, he became town clerk for Souris. He served in provincial politics as a Councillor of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island for 1st Kings District from 1959 to 1962, including functions as provincial treasurer and Attorney General.

He was first elected at the King's riding in the 1965 general election, and re-elected at the Cardigan riding in the 1968 election.

After serving his terms in the 27th and 28th Canadian Parliaments, McQuaid returned to provincial politics to become leader of the provincial Progressive Conservative party which was the Opposition party. He once again became a Councillor for the 1st Kings electoral district from 1972 until 1976. After leaving provincial office, McQuaid was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. After his retirement from the court in 1981, he served on the National Parole Board.{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/melvin-mcquaid-dead-at-89-1.280127 | accessdate=1 July 2016 | date=17 January 2001 | publisher=CBC News | title=Melvin McQuaid dead at 89 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.gov.pe.ca/news/getrelease.php3?number=1919 | accessdate=18 August 2008 | date=17 January 2001 | title=Premier saddened by death of Honourable Melvin McQuaid | publisher=Premier of Prince Edward Island}}