Rodney MacDonald
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| In office February 22, 2006 – June 19, 2009 |
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| Lieutenant Governor | Myra Freeman, Mayann E. Francis |
| Preceded by | John Hamm |
| Succeeded by | Darrell Dexter |
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| Born | January 2, 1972 Mabou, Nova Scotia |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Lori-Ann MacDonald |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Rodney Joseph MacDonald, MLA (born January 2, 1972) is a Canadian politician and educator who served as Premier of Nova Scotia from 2006 to 2009. He currently represents the riding of Inverness in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
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[edit] Background
MacDonald is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education while continuing to build a career as a professional musician. MacDonald has taught for the Strait Regional School Board, the Mi'kmawey school at Chapel Island, and pursued a Masters in Education.
In 1994, he married Lori-Ann Gillis. They have one son, Ryan.
[edit] Music career
MacDonald is an accomplished musician and 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. MacDonald has recorded two albums - Dancer's Delight (1996) and Traditionally Rockin' (1997, with his cousin Glenn Graham) and he 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 was also vice-president of GlennRod Music Incorporated.
[edit] Political career
MacDonald has served in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia since the 1999 provincial election, representing the riding of Inverness in western Cape Breton Island. He was re-elected in 2003 and has served in cabinet with various portfolios as Minister of Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Minister of Health Promotion and Minister of Immigration, he has also been responsible for the Heritage Property Act and was formerly responsible for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation and the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat.
Following Premier John Hamm's September, 2005 announcement of his intention to retire, MacDonald committed to running for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party. 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.
MacDonald's Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party won a minority government in the 2006 general election.
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.[1] Although MacDonald was personally re-elected in the riding of Inverness, the Progressive Conservatives lost the election to the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party, led by Darrell Dexter.[2]
MacDonald stepped down as Nova Scotia PC Leader on June 24, 2009.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Smith, Amy; Jackson, David (May 6, 2009). "N.S. heads to polls June 9". The Chronicle Herald. http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1120305.html. Retrieved on May 11, 2009.
- ^ "N.S. voters elect 1st NDP government". CBC.ca. June 9, 2009. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nsvotes2009/story/2009/06/09/nsvotes-main.html. Retrieved on June 13, 2009.
- ^ "Former N.S. health minister chosen interim Tory leader". CBC.ca. June 24, 2009. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/06/24/tory-leader.html. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.
[edit] External links
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