Maureen MacDonald

Maureen MacDonald
MLA 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 Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Political party NDP
Occupation social worker, professor

Maureen MacDonald 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.[2]

Early life and career

A 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

In 1998 MacDonald successfully ran for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party nomination in Halifax Needham. She was elected in the 1998 provincial election and was re-elected in the 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2013 provincial elections.

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.[3] On May 30, 2012, Premier Darrell Dexter shuffled his cabinet, appointing MacDonald as Minister of Finance.[4] On May 10, 2013 MacDonald was appointed Minister of African Nova Scotia Affairs.[5]

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.[6]

On April 12, 2016, MacDonald announced she was resigning as MLA.[7]

Electoral record

Nova Scotia general election, 2013
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
GreenKris MacLellan 361 4.69 -0.08
Nova Scotia general election, 2009
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
GreenKris MacLellan 375 4.77
Nova Scotia general election, 2006
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
GreenAmanda Myers 333 4.55
Nova Scotia general election, 2003
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 PartyBlair Baxter 116 1.57
Nova Scotia general election, 1999
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 PartyScott Higgins 162 2.07
Nova Scotia general election, 1998
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
Nova Scotia general election, 1988
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
Nova Scotia general election, 1984
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

  1. "Premier Dexter makes changes to cabinet". The Vanguard. January 11, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  2. "NDP appoints caucus veteran MacDonald as acting party leader". The Chronicle Herald. November 23, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  3. "Atlantic Canada's 1st NDP government takes office in Nova Scotia". CBC News, June 19, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  4. "First female finance minister appointed in N.S.". CBC. May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  5. "N.S. cabinet minister resigns after bathroom fight". CBC. May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  6. "Darrell Dexter steps down as Nova Scotia's NDP leader". CBC News. November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  7. "Maureen MacDonald retires from provincial politics after 18 years as MLA". CBC News. April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/31/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.