Alexander Macdonald (British Columbia politician)

Alexander Macdonald
Member of Parliament
for Vancouver Kingsway
In office
June 1957 – March 1958
Preceded by Angus MacInnis
Succeeded by John Ferguson Browne
Personal details
Born Alexander Barrett Macdonald
21 October 1918(1918-10-21)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Political party Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Profession barrister and solicitor

Alexander Barrett Macdonald (born 21 October 1918 at Vancouver, British Columbia) was a politician who served for several years in the legislative assembly of British Columbia and briefly in the Canadian House of Commons. He was a barrister and solicitor by career.[1]

The son of Malcolm Archibald Macdonald, Macdonald was educated at the University of British Columbia and Osgoode Hall. He worked with the Department of Munitions and Supplies in Ottawa during World War II. During that time, he married Dorothy Ann Lewis. After the war, he served as secretary for M. J. Coldwell and then practised law in Ontario for a short time. In 1948, he opened his own practice in Vancouver.[2]

He was first elected in the riding of Vancouver Kingsway in the 1957 general election as a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation.[1] After his only federal term, the 23rd Canadian Parliament, he was defeated by John Ferguson Browne of the Progressive Conservative party in the 1958 election.[3]

He was first elected to the B.C. legislature in the 1960 general election as the member for Vancouver East,[2] and held this seat until his retirement in 1986.[4] In 1972 he became Attorney General of B.C. in the New Democratic Party government led by Dave Barrett and held this position until the NDP's defeat in the 1975 general election.[5] He has written three books on politics and law: My Dear Legs ISBN 0919573398,[6] Alex in Wonderland ISBN 0921586280 and Outrage: Canada's Justice System on Trial ISBN 1551922304 [7]

References

  1. ^ a b Alexander Barrett Macdonald - Parliament of Canada biography
  2. ^ a b Webster, Daisy (1970). Growth of the N.D.P. in B.C., 1900-1970: 81 political biographies. 
  3. ^ "Vancouver Kingsway, British Columbia (1952 - 1987)". History of Federal Ridings since 1867. Parliament of Canada. http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/FederalRidingsHistory/hfer.asp?Language=E&Search=Det&rid=761&Include=. Retrieved 2011-12-26. 
  4. ^ "Electoral History of British Columbia, 1871-1986". Elections BC. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1871-1986_ElectoralHistoryofBC.pdf. Retrieved 2011-07-27. 
  5. ^ "Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples". Parliament of Canada. March 22, 2000. http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/362/abor/06evb-e.htm?comm_id=1&Language=E&Parl=36&Ses=2. Retrieved 2011-12-26. 
  6. ^ "Parliamentary Book Shelf". Canadian Parliamentary Review. 1986. http://www.revparl.ca/english/issue.asp?param=116&art=661. Retrieved 2011-12-26. 
  7. ^ "Outrage: Canada's Justice System on Trial". Canadian Justice Review Board. http://www.canadianjusticereviewboard.ca/books-Macdonald%27s%20Outrage.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-26.