In 1915, the Roblin administration was forced to resign from office after a report commissioned by the Lieutenant Governor found the government guilty of corruption in the tendering of contracts for new legislative buildings. A new election was called, which the Liberals won in a landslide.[4] McLean did not seek re-election.
He attempted to return to the legislature in the 1922 provincial election. By this time, the city of Winnipeg had been re-designed as a single ten-member constituency, with members chosen by a single transferable ballot. McLean finished in 24th place on the first count with 515 votes, and was eliminated on the twenty-first count.
He served as mayor of Winnipeg in 1928–29,[2] succeeding fellow Conservative Ralph Webb. He was defeated by Webb when he ran for reelection as mayor for 1930.[5]