Maureen MacDonald

Maureen MacDonald (born 1954)^[2] is a Canadian academic and politician. She represented the riding of Halifax Needham in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1998 to 2016. She served as the interim leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party from November 23, 2013 to February 27, 2016.^[3]

The Honourable Maureen MacDonald ECNS
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Halifax Needham
In office March 24, 1998 – April 12, 2016
Preceded by	Gerry O'Malley
Succeeded by	Lisa Roberts
Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party Interim
In office November 23, 2013 – February 27, 2016
Preceded by	Darrell Dexter
Succeeded by	Gary Burrill
Minister of Finance
In office May 30, 2012 – October 22, 2013
Preceded by	Graham Steele
Succeeded by	Diana Whalen
Minister of Health
In office June 19, 2009 – May 30, 2012
Preceded by	Karen Casey
Succeeded by	Dave Wilson
Minister of Health Promotion and Protection
In office June 19, 2009 – January 11, 2011
Preceded by	Pat Dunn
Succeeded by	department merged[1]
Minister of Gaelic Affairs
In office June 19, 2009 – October 22, 2013
Preceded by	Angus MacIsaac
Succeeded by	Randy Delorey
Personal details
Born	1954 (age 70–71) Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Political party	NDP
Occupation	social worker, professor

Early life and career

A native of Antigonish, MacDonald graduated in 1979 with a MSW from the Maritime School of Social Work at Dalhousie University. She was employed as a social worker at the Nova Scotia Hospital (Adolescent Services) and later was a faculty member at her alma mater where she taught social policy and community development. MacDonald also worked at Dalhousie Legal Aid, the North End Clinic and the North End Parent Resource Centre.

Political career

MacDonald was first elected as MLA for Halifax Needham in the 1998 provincial election, after having previously run in the same riding in 1984 and 1988. She was subsequently re-elected in the 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2013 provincial elections.

MacDonald sought the leadership of the NS NDP in 2000, finishing a strong third.

On June 19, 2009 MacDonald was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia where she served as Minister of Health as well as Minister of Health Promotion and Protection.^[4] On May 30, 2012, Premier Darrell Dexter shuffled his cabinet, appointing MacDonald as Minister of Finance.^[5] On May 10, 2013 MacDonald was appointed Minister of African Nova Scotia Affairs.^[6]

MacDonald was one of only seven NDP MLAs returned in the 2013 provincial election in which the Dexter government was defeated. On November 16, 2013, it was announced that MacDonald would become the party's interim leader when Dexter steps down as leader on November 23, 2013.^[7]

On April 12, 2016, MacDonald announced she was resigning as MLA.^[8]

Electoral record

2013 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic Party	Maureen MacDonald	3,391	44.03	-23.80
	Liberal	Chris Poole	3,115	40.45	+19.22
	Progressive Conservative	Mary D.S. Hamblin	834	10.83	+4.65
	Green	Kris MacLellan	361	4.69	-0.08

2009 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic Party	Maureen MacDonald	5,337	67.83
	Liberal	Graham Estabrooks	1,670	21.23
	Progressive Conservative	Jason Cameron	486	6.18
	Green	Kris MacLellan	375	4.77	–

2006 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic Party	Maureen MacDonald	4,438	60.62
	Progressive Conservative	Andrew Black	1,330	18.17
	Liberal	Dr. Errol Guam	1,220	16.66
	Green	Amanda Myers	333	4.55	–

2003 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic Party	Maureen MacDonald	3,709	50.26
	Liberal	Mike Rogers	2,178	29.51
	Progressive Conservative	Linda Carvery	1,377	18.66
	Nova Scotia Party	Blair Baxter	116	1.57

1999 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic Party	Maureen MacDonald	3,525	44.95
	Progressive Conservative	Linda Carvery	2,185	27.86
	Liberal	Mike Rogers	1,970	25.12
	Nova Scotia Party	Scott Higgins	162	2.07

1998 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic Party	Maureen MacDonald	4,837	58.51
	Liberal	Gerry O'Malley	2,506	30.31
	Progressive Conservative	Atho Kartsaklis	924	11.18

1988 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Gerry O'Malley	3,469	41.91
	New Democratic Party	Maureen MacDonald	2,693	32.53
	Progressive Conservative	Randy Dewell	2,116	25.56

1984 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Edmund Morris	3,173	39.97
	New Democratic Party	Maureen MacDonald	2,514	31.67
	Liberal	Walter Fitzgerald	2,208	27.81
	Labour	Bernice Kaizer	44	0.55