Donald William Cameron

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Donald William Cameron (b. 1946) was Progressive Conservative premier of Nova Scotia, Canada, from February 1991 to June 1993. His administration was known for cutting the cost and size of government, a smaller cabinet, supporting anti-discrimination measures and amending the human rights act to extend protection to gays and lesbians. His government also privatized Nova Scotia Power Incorporated, the largest privatization move in Canada at the time. Cameron also introduced merit-based hiring codes, ended subsidies to Sydney Steel, signed on to the Atlantic Procurement Agreement and introduced mandatory testing in grades 3,6,9 and 12 with public release of test scores. Cameron's government established a non-partisan electoral boundaries revision commission in an attempt to end gerrymandering. Deregulation of gasoline prices and investments in double-stack rail service and four-lane highways were themes of his government, and his efforts marked a change in politics in Nova Scotia that his successor, Dr. John Savage, was able to follow.

However, Cameron is probably best remembered as the key backer of a disastrous development project.

Cameron was instrumental, first as a local MLA, then as Industry Minister in the government of John Buchanan, and then as Premier, in the development of the Westray Mine in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Although warnings appeared in the provincial media about possible safety hazards for those working in such a mine—the site was rich in explosive methane gas—the development proceeded. The coal mine was developed through the late 1980s and opened in 1991 with significant provincial and federal government assistance.

On May 9, 1992 at 5:18 AM a methane gas explosion ripped through the mine, killing 26 miners.

In May 1993, the government of Donald Cameron was defeated by the Nova Scotia Liberal Party under Dr. John Savage, ending 15 years of Tory rule. Cameron was later given a patronage appointment as the Nova Scotia Government's Consul General in Boston.

Preceded by Roger Stuart Bacon

Premier of Nova Scotia 1991-1993

Succeeded by John Savage

Premiers of Nova Scotia
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