He represented the district of Lake Melville in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 2003 to 2011.
He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party and served in the Cabinets of Danny Williams and Kathy Dunderdale.
[2] Following the 2007 election, Hickey remained in cabinet as Minister of Labrador Affairs, but lost the transportation portfolio.
[5][6] Prior to entering provincial politics, Hickey was a municipal councillor in Happy Valley-Goose Bay for 15 years, and served as mayor in 2003.
[8] On December 9, 2017, Hickey was seriously injured when he accidentally shot himself in the face in a hunting accident.