[2] As a student, Hickey worked for Canadian Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Liberal Party, including British Columbia MPs Hedy Fry and Stephen Fuhr, as well as Saint John—Rothesay MP Wayne Long.

[3] Hickey was elected to the Saint John Common Council in May 2019,[2] where he served as a councilor for Ward 3.

He resigned during a council meeting on October 24, 2024, after winning his legislative seat in the 2024 general election.

[4][5] On November 1, 2024, it was announced that he was appointed to cabinet as Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation.

[6] Under this ministry, Hickey introduced legislation to implement an annual residential rent cap restriction of three percent on November 20.