Rodney MacDonald
26th Premier of Nova Scotia
In office
February 24, 2006 – June 19, 2009
MonarchElizabeth II
Lieutenant GovernorMyra Freeman
Mayann Francis
Preceded byJohn Hamm
Succeeded byDarrell Dexter
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Inverness
In office
July 27, 1999 – September 10, 2009
Preceded byCharlie MacDonald
Succeeded byAllan MacMaster
Personal details
Born
Rodney Joseph MacDonald

(1972-01-02) January 2, 1972
Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative

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 was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia but spent his formative years in the community of Mabou, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.[1] In his youth, he was active in sports, including hockey, baseball and track and field. He played Midget AAA, Junior and Senior Hockey. In later years he coached various levels. He graduated from Mabou Consolidated School in 1990 and from St. Francis Xavier University in 1994, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a minor in English and a Nova Scotia Teaching Licence.

He was employed as a senior high teacher with the Strait Regional School Board and was actively engaged in many community groups. At the age of 27, he became one of the youngest elected MLAs in Nova Scotia's history and went on to hold a number of high-profile Cabinet positions within the Nova Scotia government. At the age of 34 he became Nova Scotia's 26th Premier. He balanced Nova Scotia's budget each year of his term, lowered the Provincial debt, reduced taxes, and invested in key areas of the province's economy. MacDonald is engaged in numerous areas of Nova Scotia's economy: Business Development,[2] the Offshore Petroleum Board of Nova Scotia,[3] and in higher education as the CEO of The Gaelic College/Colaisde na Gaidhlig.[4]

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 (1995) and Traditionally Rockin' (1997, with his cousin Glenn Graham). In 1998 he received two nominations for the East Coast Music Awards. MacDonald was also included on the 2004 Smithsonian release The Beaton Family of Mabou: Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music and numerous other compilations.

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.[5] He was re-elected in 2003.[6] He served in Premier John Hamm's cabinet with various ministerial portfolios including Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Health Promotion, and Immigration. He was responsible for the Heritage Property Act, Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation Act, and the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat.[7]

Following 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. He is the second youngest premier in Nova Scotia's history.[8][9][10]

In May 2006, after a short session, MacDonald dissolved the legislature, calling an election for June 13, 2006.[11] MacDonald's Progressive Conservatives won a minority government in the 2006 general election and MacDonald retained his seat.[12]

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. Although MacDonald kept his seat in the riding of Inverness,[13] the Progressive Conservatives lost the election to the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party, led by Darrell Dexter.[14][15]

MacDonald stepped down as Nova Scotia PC Leader on June 24, 2009.[16] He announced on August 5, 2009 that he would be resigning his seat in the legislature before the fall session began.[17] He officially resigned on September 10, 2009.[18]

Life after politics

After resigning as the MLA for Inverness, MacDonald founded a business development and consulting business called RMD Development Incorporated which owns a 4 star cottage operation called Ceilidh Cottages located in West Mabou, Nova Scotia.[2] In June 2010, MacDonald was appointed to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.[3]

In September 2011, MacDonald was named CEO of The Gaelic College (Colaisde na Gàidhlig) in St. Anns.[4] He created a Cape Breton Island-wide festival, "KitchenFest", which annually features more than 70 shows and more than 100 musicians. The college focuses on Gaelic language, music, culture, dance and craft. The college teaches multiple disciplines and cultural experiences to thousands of visitors and students each year. It is associated with Cape Breton University through a Memorandum of Understanding. He most recently was in the public eye when he condemned the provincial government's proposed cutting of the Gaelic Affairs Department budget by 40%.[19]

Additionally, in 2022, MacDonald faced scrutiny when he began lobbying the current Progressive Conservative provincial government, on behalf of Cabot Group as a community liaison, to lease one-third of the 215 hectares of land belonging to West Mabou Provincial Park to develop the company's third golf course.[20][21] West Mabou Provincial Park is protected under the Provincial Parks Act and contains 17 rare and endangered animals and plants[22] including piping plover, bank swallow, Canada warbler, scaly pelt lichen, and moonwort.[23] MacDonald argued the purchase of the protected area would bring increased tourism and jobs to the Mabou area, but faced staunch local opposition from community members, politicians, and scientists alike who were concerned development on the beach would destroy habitat, become inaccessible to residents, and contribute additional stress to the post-COVID housing crisis present in the area.[24][25][26] On April 20, 2023, Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, announced that the provincial government would not consider Cabot Group's proposal to develop on West Mabou Beach and would reject a proposal if one was submitted to cabinet.[27][28]

References

  1. ↑ Parties & Leaders - Rodney MacDonald CBC News, May 13, 2006
  2. 1 2 "Former premier MacDonald enjoys moving on with life after politics". Cape Breton Post. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Rodney MacDonald gets federal plum". CBC News. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 "MacDonald new Gaelic College CEO". Cape Breton Post. 1 September 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Nova Scotia Provincial Election" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 27 July 1999. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Nova Scotia Provincial Election" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 5 August 2003. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "N.S. gets new cabinet". CBC.ca. 10 November 2000. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  8. ↑ Sogawa, Takuya (13 February 2006). "After tight race, Tories will unite under new leader: delegates". NovaNewsNet. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  9. ↑ "N.S. Tories pick youthful leader". CBC. 11 February 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "Former fiddler becomes the new premier of Nova Scotia" (video). CBC. 11 February 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Nova Scotia vote called for June 13". CBC. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  12. ↑ "June 13, 2006 Nova Scotia Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 2003. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "2009 Nova Scotia Provincial General Election - Official Results" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "N.S. voters elect 1st NDP government". CBC.ca. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  15. ↑ "MacDonald's Tories turfed by disenchanted voters". CBC. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Former N.S. health minister chosen interim Tory leader". CBC.ca. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "Former N.S. premier MacDonald to resign legislature seat". Globe and Mail. 5 August 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "Ex-premier officially gives up N.S. seat, looks forward to private life". Metro. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "Ex-premier Rodney MacDonald critical of Gaelic Department cuts". The Chronicle Herald. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  20. ↑ Latimer, Emily (24 October 2022). "Golf developers eye part of provincial park in Cape Breton for second time". CBC News Nova Scotia.
  21. ↑ Contributed. "RODNEY MacDONALD: Cabot seeks community input on Mabou golf project | SaltWire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  22. ↑ Ayers, Tom (4 November 2022). "Study says golf course would threaten rare plants, birds at Cape Breton's West Mabou Beach". CBC News Nova Scotia.
  23. ↑ Ayers, Tom (1 December 2022). "Acadia biologist excited at discovery of rare fern at West Mabou Beach". CBC News Nova Scotia.
  24. ↑ Pottie, Erin (8 November 2022). "Opposition to proposed golf course at Cape Breton's West Mabou Beach is growing". CBC News Nova Scotia.
  25. ↑ Lowthers, Drake (14 November 2022). "Petition opposing golf course in West Mabou Beach Provincial Park grows to over 16,000". Port Hawkesbury Reporter. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  26. ↑ Contributed. "COMMENTARY: West Mabou proposal threatens all provincial parks | SaltWire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  27. ↑ Gorman, Michael (20 April 2023). "N.S. government says no to golf course in West Mabou Beach Provincial Park". CBC News Nova Scotia.
  28. ↑ Willick, Frances (28 April 2023). "Premier's office digs in against West Mabou Beach gold course idea". CBC News Nova Scotia.
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