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20 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m aking a break from runs to daycare and swimming lessons for his young son, former Conservative justice minister Peter MacKay was reflect- ing on law, politics, and life at the crossroads. "I want to be able to have more flexibility in my career and my private life, to be able to spend time with them — especially at this young age," confided MacKay. "These are very formative years, as everyone knows. And so my preference is not to delve immediately back into the practice of law where I would be working commensurate hours as I was as minister of justice and not see them." MacKay took everyone by surprise last May when he announced that he would serve out his term as justice min- ister, but wouldn't run again as MP for Central Nova in order to spend more time with his wife Nazanin Afshin-Jam, their son Kian, 2, and their daughter Val- entia, who was born in September. But while MacKay, 50, is only five years away from being able to collect an estimated $128,832 a year in pension after his 18 years as an MP, he says he has no intention of remaining idle. MacKay's experience in three minis- terial portfolios — justice, foreign affairs, and defence — makes him an attractive candidate to law firms. While he was prohibited from even broaching the sub- ject with prospective firms until after he formally finished as justice minister in October, it wasn't long before his phone started to ring. In December, MacKay said he was in "advanced discussions" with a number of law firms with a "large national/international reach" but would not reveal any names. However, he is a political animal and often mentioned as a possible future leader C R O S S E X A M I N E D CHRIS WATTIE/REUTERS Law, politics, and life at the crossroads MacKay proudest of Victims Bill of MacKay proudest of Victims Bill of Rights, wishes he'd been able to Rights, wishes he'd been able to make changes to family law. make changes to family law. By Elizabeth Thompson T