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Donald MacDonald (Nova Scotia politician)
Encyclopedia
Donald MacDonald, O.C., LL.D. (September 12, 1909 - September 25, 1986) was a Canadian social democratic politician and trade union
ist who led the Nova Scotia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
and was elected as a member of the Nova Scotia
House of Assembly
in 1941. In 1968 he was elected President of the Canadian Labour Congress
(CLC).
on September 12, 1909. His family moved to Sydney, Nova Scotia
, on Cape Breton Island
when he was still a boy. By age 17, he was working at the coal piers at the Sydney Steel Plant
. His education included graduating from Sydney Academy High School and attending St. Francis Xavier University
(St. F.X.).
(UMW) Local 4560. He worked at the pier throughout the 1930s.
's (CCF) governing board known as the provincial council from 1940 until 1951. In 1941, he then ran for and won the CCF's nomination for the provincial electoral district
(riding) of Cape Breton South
. He won the 1941 provincial election by a mere 62 votes over Liberal incumbent MLA George Mackay Morrison. Being one of only three CCF candidates elected, he became the leader of the CCF party in the Nova Scotia Assembly until 1945 .
He ran for re-election in 1945, but lost another close election to Liberal John Smith MacIvor by 330 votes. The CCF lost Cape Breton South, but still retained two seats on the island and in the House of Assembly. His successor as party leader, Russell Cunningham was elected in Cape Breton East in the 1945 election, making up for the loss of Cape Breton South.
(CCL). After his 1945 loss in the Cape Breton South riding, he became the regional director of the Maritime Provinces. In 1951, he became the CCL's secretary-treasurer and chief executive officer. He was very much a part of the organizational force, along with David Lewis
, that created the Canada Labour Congress in 1956.
, MacDonald was appointed acting president of the CLC in September, due to Claude Jodoin being incapacitated by illness. The position formally became his when he was elected president in a 1968 convention. He served three two year terms and resigned in 1974.
During this period, he became the first non-European to be elected president of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
. He retired in 1974.
Donald MacDonald was recognized for his contribution to Canada's business and political life. On December 22, 1972 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. His other honours include: the Canadian Centennial Medal
; the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Donald MacDonald died in the nation's capital, Ottawa
, on September 25, 1986.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ist who led the Nova Scotia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is aligned with the federal New Democratic Party . Originally founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1932, it became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing...
and was elected as a member of the Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
in 1941. In 1968 he was elected President of the Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Labour Congress
The Canadian Labour Congress, or CLC is a national trade union centre, the central labour body in English Canada to which most Canadian labour unions are affiliated.- Formation :...
(CLC).
Early life
He was born in HalifaxCity of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
on September 12, 1909. His family moved to Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
, on Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
when he was still a boy. By age 17, he was working at the coal piers at the Sydney Steel Plant
Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation
The Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation was a Canadian coal mining and steel manufacturing company.Incorporated in 1928 and operational in 1930, DOSCO was predated by the British Empire Steel Corporation which was a merger of the Dominion Coal Company, the Dominion Iron and Steel Company and the...
. His education included graduating from Sydney Academy High School and attending St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
(St. F.X.).
Early union experience
At the age of 21, Donald MacDonald became the president of the United Mine WorkersUnited Mine Workers
The United Mine Workers of America is a North American labor union best known for representing coal miners and coal technicians. Today, the Union also represents health care workers, truck drivers, manufacturing workers and public employees in the United States and Canada...
(UMW) Local 4560. He worked at the pier throughout the 1930s.
CCF MLA
After the UMW strike of 1940, MacDonald wanted labour to have an active voice in the provincial legislature. He served on the Nova Scotia Co-operative Commonwealth FederationCo-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
's (CCF) governing board known as the provincial council from 1940 until 1951. In 1941, he then ran for and won the CCF's nomination for the provincial electoral district
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
(riding) of Cape Breton South
Cape Breton South (provincial electoral district)
Cape Breton South is a provincial electoral district in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since 1993 has been Manning MacDonald of the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia...
. He won the 1941 provincial election by a mere 62 votes over Liberal incumbent MLA George Mackay Morrison. Being one of only three CCF candidates elected, he became the leader of the CCF party in the Nova Scotia Assembly until 1945 .
He ran for re-election in 1945, but lost another close election to Liberal John Smith MacIvor by 330 votes. The CCF lost Cape Breton South, but still retained two seats on the island and in the House of Assembly. His successor as party leader, Russell Cunningham was elected in Cape Breton East in the 1945 election, making up for the loss of Cape Breton South.
Canadian Congress of Labour 1942-1956
In 1942, he joined the organizing staff of the Canadian Congress of LabourCanadian Congress of Labour
The Canadian Congress of Labour was founded in 1940 and merged with Trades and Labour Congress of Canada to form the Canadian Labour Congress in 1956.-Founding:...
(CCL). After his 1945 loss in the Cape Breton South riding, he became the regional director of the Maritime Provinces. In 1951, he became the CCL's secretary-treasurer and chief executive officer. He was very much a part of the organizational force, along with David Lewis
David Lewis (politician)
David Lewis, CC was a Russian-born Canadian labour lawyer and social democratic politician. He was national secretary of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1936 to 1950, and one of the key architects of the New Democratic Party in 1961...
, that created the Canada Labour Congress in 1956.
President of the CLC
He was elected to the secretary treasurer's position at the 1956 founding convention of the CLC. In 1967, during Canada's Centennial YearCanadian Centennial
The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each...
, MacDonald was appointed acting president of the CLC in September, due to Claude Jodoin being incapacitated by illness. The position formally became his when he was elected president in a 1968 convention. He served three two year terms and resigned in 1974.
During this period, he became the first non-European to be elected president of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was an international trade union. It came into being on 7 December 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions , and was dissolved on 31 October 2006 when it merged with the World Confederation of Labour to form the...
. He retired in 1974.
Donald MacDonald was recognized for his contribution to Canada's business and political life. On December 22, 1972 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. His other honours include: the Canadian Centennial Medal
Canadian Centennial Medal
The Canadian Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1967 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation and was awarded to Canadians who were recommended by governments and professional, educational and cultural associations, as well as...
; the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Donald MacDonald died in the nation's capital, Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, on September 25, 1986.