Don Jamieson

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Donald Campbell Jamieson, PC (April 30, 1921 – November 19, 1986) was a Canadian politician, diplomat and broadcaster.

Jamieson was born in St. John's Newfoundland. His father was a newspaper editor, and his grandfather was a fisherman who settled in Newfoundland from Scotland.

He worked for Newfoundland's Department of Rural Reconstruction, as a bookkeeper, and as a sales manager for Coca-Cola before starting a career in broadcasting. He was Newfoundland's best known radio and television personality.

In 1945, he became the first Newfoundlander to sit in the press gallery of the Parliament of Canada, reporting on the negotiations that led to Canada inviting Newfoundland to join Canadian Confederation. During the two referenda on the question in 1948, Jamieson vehemently campaigned in opposition to Newfoundland joining Canada, favouring an economic union with the United States instead.

In 1951, he obtained a licence, in partnership with Geoff W. Stirling, for a new radio station in St. John's. He eventually established a private radio network in Newfoundland, and the island's first television station CJON-TV. He became president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in 1961, and remained in that position for four years.

Jamieson entered politics by successfully contesting a 1966 by-election as a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada. He was re-elected in the 1968 election ,and joined the Cabinet of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau as Minister of Defence Production. In 1969, he became Minister of Transport retaining that portfolio until 1972 when he became Minister of Regional Economic Expansion. In 1976, he became Secretary of State for External Affairs.

He was re-elected in the 1979 election that brought down the Liberal government. Jamieson then moved to provincial politics, winning the leadership of the Newfoundland Liberal Party one month before the June 1979 provincial election. Jamieson's Liberals were defeated, and he resigned as provincial party leader in 1980.

In 1982, he was appointed Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and served until 1985.

He returned to Newfoundland to run his broadcasting interests before dying of a heart attack in 1986.

[edit] External links

• Synopsis of federal political experience from the Library of Parliament

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Chesley William Carter	Member of Parliament from Burin—Burgeo 1966–1979	Succeeded by The electoral district was abolished in 1976.
Preceded by The electoral district was dreated in 1976.	Member of Parliament from Burin—St. George's 1979	Succeeded by Roger Simmons
Political offices
Preceded by Charles Mills Drury	Minister of Defence Production 1968–1969	Succeeded by The office of Minister of Defence Production was abolished.
Preceded by The office of Minister of Supply and Services was created in 1969.	Minister of Supply and Services 1969	Succeeded by James Armstrong Richardson
Preceded by James Armstrong Richardson	Minister of Transport 1969–1972	Succeeded by Jean Marchand
Preceded by Jean Marchand	Minister of Regional Economic Expansion 1972–1975	Succeeded by Marcel Lessard
Preceded by Alastair William Gillespie	Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce 1975–1976	Succeeded by Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien
Preceded by Allan MacEachen	Secretary of State for External Affairs 1976–1979	Succeeded by Flora MacDonald
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Jean Casselman Wadds	Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom 1983–1985	Succeeded by Roy McMurtry