John MacDonell (Nova Scotia politician)

John MacDonell (born April 2, 1956) is a Canadian retired educator and politician.

The Honourable John MacDonell ECNS
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Hants East
In office March 24, 1998 – October 8, 2013
Preceded by	Bob Carruthers
Succeeded by	Margaret Miller
Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
In office January 11, 2011 – October 22, 2013
Premier	Darrell Dexter
Preceded by	Ramona Jennex
Succeeded by	Mark Furey
Minister of Agriculture
In office January 11, 2011 – October 22, 2013
Premier	Darrell Dexter
Preceded by	Mark Parent
Succeeded by	Keith Colwell
Minister of Natural Resources
In office June 19, 2009 – January 11, 2011
Premier	Darrell Dexter
Preceded by	Carolyn Bolivar-Getson
Succeeded by	Charlie Parker
Personal details
Born	(1956-04-02) April 2, 1956 (age 69) [1] Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political party	NDP
Occupation	educator

A native of Halifax, MacDonell was educated at Acadia University and Saint Mary's University.^[2] MacDonell worked on a dairy farm and taught biology at Hants East Rural High School from 1985 to 1998.^[1]

Political career

In 1998, MacDonell successfully ran for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party nomination in the riding of Hants East. He was elected in the 1998 provincial election and was re-elected in the 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2009 provincial elections.

In 2002, MacDonell was a candidate for the leadership of the Nova Scotia NDP.^[3] At the leadership convention in June 2002, MacDonell was defeated by Darrell Dexter.^[4]

On June 19, 2009, MacDonell was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia, where he served first as Minister of Natural Resources until 2011. He then served as Minister of Agriculture. MacDonell was defeated in the 2013 provincial election.^[2]