Maureen MacDonald

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]

The Honourable
Maureen MacDonald
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Halifax Needham
In office
March 24, 1998 – April 12, 2016
Preceded byGerry O'Malley
Succeeded byLisa Roberts
Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
Interim
In office
November 23, 2013 – February 27, 2016
Preceded byDarrell Dexter
Succeeded byGary Burrill
Minister of Finance
In office
May 30, 2012 – October 22, 2013
Preceded byGraham Steele
Succeeded byDiana Whalen
Minister of Health
In office
June 19, 2009 – May 30, 2012
Preceded byKaren Casey
Succeeded byDave Wilson
Minister of Health Promotion and Protection
In office
June 19, 2009 – January 11, 2011
Preceded byPat Dunn
Succeeded bydepartment merged[1]
Minister of Gaelic Affairs
In office
June 19, 2009 – October 22, 2013
Preceded byAngus MacIsaac
Succeeded byRandy Delorey
Personal details
Born1954
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Political partyNDP
Occupationsocial worker, professor

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

MacDonald 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
2013 Nova Scotia general election
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
2009 Nova Scotia general election
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 MacLellan3754.77–
2006 Nova Scotia general election
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 Myers3334.55–
2003 Nova Scotia general election
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 Baxter1161.57
1999 Nova Scotia general election
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 Higgins1622.07
1998 Nova Scotia general election
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
1988 Nova Scotia general election
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
1984 Nova Scotia general election
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. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  2. 61st General Assembly Nova Scotia Legislature
  3. "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.
  4. "Atlantic Canada's 1st NDP government takes office in Nova Scotia". CBC News, June 19, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  5. "First female finance minister appointed in N.S." CBC. May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  6. "N.S. cabinet minister resigns after bathroom fight". CBC. May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  7. "Darrell Dexter steps down as Nova Scotia's NDP leader". CBC News. November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  8. "Maureen MacDonald retires from provincial politics after 18 years as MLA". CBC News. April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
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