Rodney MacDonald

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The Honourable
Rodney Joseph MacDonald
BSc
26th Premier of Nova Scotia
In office
February 24, 2006 – June 19, 2009
Monarch Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor Myra Freeman
Mayann Francis
Preceded by John Hamm
Succeeded by Darrell Dexter
MLA for Inverness
In office
July 27, 1999 – September 10, 2009
Preceded by Charles MacDonald
Succeeded by Allan MacMaster
Personal details
Born (1972-01-02) January 2, 1972
Mabou, Nova Scotia
Political party Progressive Conservative
Religion Roman Catholic

Rodney Joseph MacDonald (born January 2, 1972) is a Canadian politician, educator and musician who served as the 26th Premier of Nova Scotia from 2006 to 2009 and as MLA for the riding of Inverness in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1999 to 2009.

Background

MacDonald graduated from Mabou Consolidated School in 1990, and from St. Francis Xavier University in 1994, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. His teaching career included working for the Strait Regional School board.

Music career

MacDonald has toured his fiddle music throughout Atlantic Canada, Central Canada and the northeastern United States. He is also an accomplished step dancer; he began dancing at age four after learning the skill from his parents. MacDonald's first public performance was reportedly at age eight at the Mayflower Shopping Mall in Sydney and he began taking fiddle lessons from his uncle, Kinnon Beaton, at age 12. He has recorded two albums to date: Dancer's Delight (1996) and Traditionally Rockin' (1997, with his cousin Glenn Graham). MacDonald was also included on the 2004 Smithsonian release The Beaton Family of Mabou: Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music. In 1998 he received two nominations for the East Coast Music Awards. He served as V.P. of GlennRod Music Incorporated, which he founded with Graham.

Political career

MacDonald was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia in the 1999 provincial election, representing the riding of Inverness in western Cape Breton Island.[1] He was re-elected in 2003.[2] He served in John Hamm's cabinet with various ministerial portfolios including Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Health Promotion, and Immigration. He was also responsible for the Heritage Property Act, Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation Act, and the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat.[3]

Following Premier John Hamm's September, 2005 announcement of his intention to retire, MacDonald committed to running for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia. The leadership race culminated in MacDonald winning the party's leadership on a second ballot on February 11, 2006. He was sworn in as Premier of Nova Scotia on February 24, succeeding Hamm. MacDonald was the second youngest premier in Nova Scotia's history.[4][5][6]

In May 2006, after a short session, MacDonald dissolved the legislature, calling an election for June 13, 2006.[7] MacDonald's Progressive Conservatives won a minority government in the 2006 general election and MacDonald retained his seat.[8]

On May 4, 2009 MacDonald's government lost a confidence vote; as a result, a provincial election was called for June 9, 2009 to elect the next government.[9] Although MacDonald was personally re-elected in the riding of Inverness,[10] the Progressive Conservatives lost the election to the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party, led by Darrell Dexter.[11][12]

MacDonald stepped down as Nova Scotia PC Leader on June 24, 2009.[13] He announced on August 5, 2009 that he would be resigning his seat in the legislature before the fall session began.[14] He officially resigned on September 10, 2009.[15]

Life after politics

After resigning as the MLA for Inverness, MacDonald resumed his musical career. He also invested in Ceilidh Cottages, a campground located in West Mabou, Nova Scotia. In June 2010, MacDonald was appointed to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum board.

References

  1. ↑ "Nova Scotia Provincial Election - July 27th,1999". Elections Nova Scotia. 1999. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 
  2. ↑ "Nova Scotia Provincial Election - August 5th, 2003". Elections Nova Scotia. 2003. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 
  3. ↑ "N.S. gets new cabinet". CBC. November 10, 2000. Retrieved 2013-10-22. 
  4. ↑ Sogawa, Takuya (February 13, 2006). "After tight race, Tories will unite under new leader: delegates". NovaNewsNet. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 
  5. ↑ "N.S. Tories pick youthful leader". CBC. February 11, 2006. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
  6. ↑ "Former fiddler becomes the new premier of Nova Scotia" (video). CBC. February 11, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 
  7. ↑ "Nova Scotia vote called for June 13". CBC. May 13, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 
  8. ↑ "June 13th, 2006 Nova Scotia Provincial General Election". Elections Nova Scotia. 2003. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 
  9. ↑ Smith, Amy; Jackson, David (May 6, 2009). "N.S. heads to polls June 9". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved May 11, 2009. 
  10. ↑ "2009 Nova Scotia Provincial General Election - Official Results". Elections Nova Scotia. 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 
  11. ↑ "N.S. voters elect 1st NDP government". CBC.ca. June 9, 2009. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
  12. ↑ "MacDonald's Tories turfed by disenchanted voters". CBC. June 9, 2009. Retrieved 2013-10-22. 
  13. ↑ "Former N.S. health minister chosen interim Tory leader". CBC.ca. June 24, 2009. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
  14. ↑ "Former N.S. premier MacDonald to resign legislature seat". Globe and Mail. August 5, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009. 
  15. ↑ "Ex-premier officially gives up N.S. seat, looks forward to private life". The Canadian Press. September 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 

External links

Colonial
Provincial
  • Book:Premiers of Nova Scotia
  • Category:Premiers of Nova Scotia
  • Portal:Nova Scotia
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