She raised seven children, two daughters and five sons while tending the farm while her husband was away working for a Sarnia oil company.

[1] MacKinnon ran as the New Democratic candidate in the provincial election of 1990 in the south-western Ontario riding of Lambton.

During the campaign, MacKinnon spoke out against shipping Toronto area garbage to the Sarnia region.

MacKinnon learned later that many voters appreciated her simple answer to a complex issue.

"[5] The NDP won a majority government in this election and she served as a backbench supporter of Bob Rae's administration for the next five years.

[6] In 1994, she voted for the party's bill on benefits for same-sex couples despite receiving death threats.

NDP leader Howard Hampton spoke about her and quoted William Irvine: "I will not acquiesce to that which is.