Maureen MacDonald (born 1954)[2] is a Canadian academic and politician. She represented the riding of Halifax Needham in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1998 to 2016. She served as the interim leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party from November 23, 2013 to February 27, 2016.[3]
Maureen MacDonald | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Halifax Needham | |
| In office March 24, 1998 – April 12, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Gerry O'Malley |
| Succeeded by | Lisa Roberts |
| Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party Interim | |
| In office November 23, 2013 – February 27, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Darrell Dexter |
| Succeeded by | Gary Burrill |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office May 30, 2012 – October 22, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Graham Steele |
| Succeeded by | Diana Whalen |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office June 19, 2009 – May 30, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Karen Casey |
| Succeeded by | Dave Wilson |
| Minister of Health Promotion and Protection | |
| In office June 19, 2009 – January 11, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Pat Dunn |
| Succeeded by | department merged[1] |
| Minister of Gaelic Affairs | |
| In office June 19, 2009 – October 22, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Angus MacIsaac |
| Succeeded by | Randy Delorey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1954 Antigonish, Nova Scotia |
| Political party | NDP |
| Occupation | social worker, professor |
Early life and career
editA native of Antigonish, MacDonald graduated in 1979 with a MSW from the Maritime School of Social Work at Dalhousie University. She was employed as a social worker at the Nova Scotia Hospital (Adolescent Services) and later was a faculty member at her alma mater where she taught social policy and community development. MacDonald also worked at Dalhousie Legal Aid, the North End Clinic and the North End Parent Resource Centre.
Political career
editMacDonald was first elected as MLA for Halifax Needham in the 1998 provincial election, after having previously run in the same riding in 1984 and 1988. She was subsequently re-elected in the 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2013 provincial elections.
MacDonald sought the leadership of the NS NDP in 2000, finishing a strong third.
On June 19, 2009 MacDonald was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia where she served as Minister of Health as well as Minister of Health Promotion and Protection.[4] On May 30, 2012, Premier Darrell Dexter shuffled his cabinet, appointing MacDonald as Minister of Finance.[5] On May 10, 2013 MacDonald was appointed Minister of African Nova Scotia Affairs.[6]
MacDonald was one of only seven NDP MLAs returned in the 2013 provincial election in which the Dexter government was defeated. On November 16, 2013, it was announced that MacDonald would become the party's interim leader when Dexter steps down as leader on November 23, 2013.[7]
On April 12, 2016, MacDonald announced she was resigning as MLA.[8]
Electoral record
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | Maureen MacDonald | 3,391 | 44.03 | -23.80 | |
| Liberal | Chris Poole | 3,115 | 40.45 | 19.22 | |
| Progressive Conservative | Mary D.S. Hamblin | 834 | 10.83 | 4.65 | |
| Green | Kris MacLellan | 361 | 4.69 | -0.08 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | Maureen MacDonald | 5,337 | 67.83 | ||
| Liberal | Graham Estabrooks | 1,670 | 21.23 | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Jason Cameron | 486 | 6.18 | ||
| Green | Kris MacLellan | 375 | 4.77 | – | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | Maureen MacDonald | 4,438 | 60.62 | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Andrew Black | 1,330 | 18.17 | ||
| Liberal | Dr. Errol Guam | 1,220 | 16.66 | ||
| Green | Amanda Myers | 333 | 4.55 | – | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | Maureen MacDonald | 3,709 | 50.26 | ||
| Liberal | Mike Rogers | 2,178 | 29.51 | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Linda Carvery | 1,377 | 18.66 | ||
| Nova Scotia Party | Blair Baxter | 116 | 1.57 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | Maureen MacDonald | 3,525 | 44.95 | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Linda Carvery | 2,185 | 27.86 | ||
| Liberal | Mike Rogers | 1,970 | 25.12 | ||
| Nova Scotia Party | Scott Higgins | 162 | 2.07 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | Maureen MacDonald | 4,837 | 58.51 | ||
| Liberal | Gerry O'Malley | 2,506 | 30.31 | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Atho Kartsaklis | 924 | 11.18 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Gerry O'Malley | 3,469 | 41.91 | ||
| New Democratic Party | Maureen MacDonald | 2,693 | 32.53 | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Randy Dewell | 2,116 | 25.56 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | Edmund Morris | 3,173 | 39.97 | ||
| New Democratic Party | Maureen MacDonald | 2,514 | 31.67 | ||
| Liberal | Walter Fitzgerald | 2,208 | 27.81 | ||
| Labour | Bernice Kaizer | 44 | 0.55 | ||
References
edit- ^ "Premier Dexter makes changes to cabinet". The Vanguard. January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ 61st General Assembly Nova Scotia Legislature
- ^ "NDP appoints caucus veteran MacDonald as acting party leader". The Chronicle Herald. November 23, 2013. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "Atlantic Canada's 1st NDP government takes office in Nova Scotia". CBC News, June 19, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
- ^ "First female finance minister appointed in N.S." CBC. May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ^ "N.S. cabinet minister resigns after bathroom fight". CBC. May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ^ "Darrell Dexter steps down as Nova Scotia's NDP leader". CBC News. November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ^ "Maureen MacDonald retires from provincial politics after 18 years as MLA". CBC News. April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.