Rodney MacDonald
Encyclopedia
Rodney Joseph MacDonald 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.
in 1994 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 graduate studies in education.
throughout Atlantic Canada
, Central Canada and the northeastern United States. He is also an accomplished step dance
r; 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.
, representing the riding of Inverness in western Cape Breton Island
. He was re-elected in 2003
. He served in John Hamm
's cabinet with various ministerial portfolios including Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Health Promotion, and Immigration. He was also responsible for the Heritage Property Act, Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation Act, 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 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. MacDonald was the second youngest premier in Nova Scotia's history.
In May 2006, after a short session, MacDonald dissolved the legislature, calling an election for June 13, 2006. MacDonald's Progressive Conservatives won a minority government in the 2006 general election
and MacDonald retained his seat.
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 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
.
MacDonald stepped down as Nova Scotia PC Leader on June 24, 2009. He announced on August 5, 2009 that he would be resigning his seat in the legislature before the fall session began. He officially resigned on September 10, 2009.
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
from 2006 to 2009 and as MLA for the riding of Inverness
Inverness (provincial electoral district)
Inverness is a provincial electoral district on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
in the Nova Scotia 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...
from 1999 to 2009.
Background
MacDonald graduated from Mabou Consolidated School in 1990. MacDonald graduated from St. Francis Xavier UniversitySt. 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:...
in 1994 and received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Physical Education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
while continuing to build a career as a professional musician. MacDonald has taught for the Strait Regional School Board
Strait Regional School Board
Strait Regional School Board is a Canadian school board operating 26 schools in eastern Nova Scotia's counties of Richmond, Antigonish, Inverness, and Guysborough....
, the Mi'kmawey School at Chapel Island and pursued graduate studies in education.
Music career
MacDonald is an accomplished musician and has toured his fiddle musicCape Breton fiddling
Cape Breton fiddling is a regional violin style which falls within the Celtic music idiom. Cape Breton Island's fiddle music was brought to North America by Scottish immigrants during the Highland Clearances. These Scottish immigrants were primarily from Gaelic-speaking regions in the Scottish...
throughout Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
, Central Canada and the northeastern United States. He is also an accomplished step dance
Step dance
Step dance is the generic term for dance styles where the footwork is the most important part of the dance. Body and arm movements and styling are either restricted or considered irrelevant.Step dance is one end of a spectrum of dance styles...
r; 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
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....
and he began taking fiddle lessons from his uncle, Kinnon Beaton
Kinnon Beaton
Kinnon Beaton is a musician from Mabou, Nova Scotia. He is the son of Donald Angus Beaton and Elizabeth MacEachen.He plays the fiddle in the Scottish genre famous throughout Cape Breton Island....
, at age 12. MacDonald has recorded two albums - Dancer's Delight (1996) and Traditionally Rockin (1997, with his cousin Glenn Graham
Glenn Graham (fiddler)
Glenn Graham is a Canadian musician from Judique, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.-Music career:Graham has received music industry recognition for his solo recordings. His second solo release, "Step Outside", garnered nominations for "Male Artist of the Year" and "Roots/Traditional Solo Recording of the...
) and he was also included on the 2004 Smithsonian
Smithsonian Folkways
Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was founded in 1987 after the family of Moses Asch, founder of Folkways...
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.
Political career
MacDonald was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia in the 1999 provincial electionNova Scotia general election, 1999
The 35th Nova Scotia general election was held on July 27, 1999, to elect members of the 58th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party, led by Dr...
, representing the riding of Inverness in western 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....
. He was re-elected in 2003
Nova Scotia general election, 2003
The 36th Nova Scotia general election was held on August 5, 2003 to elect members of the 59th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada...
. He served in John Hamm
John Hamm
John Frederick Hamm, is a Canadian physician and politician and was the 25th Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada.Hamm, a graduate of the University of King's College and Dalhousie University, was a family doctor in his hometown of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, and the president of the Nova Scotia Medical...
's cabinet with various ministerial portfolios including Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Health Promotion, and Immigration. He was also responsible for the Heritage Property Act, Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation Act, and the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat.
Following Premier
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
John 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
Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, registered under the Nova Scotia Elections Act as the "Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia", is a moderate right-of-centre political party in Nova Scotia, Canada....
. 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
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
on February 24, succeeding Hamm. MacDonald was the second youngest premier in Nova Scotia's history.
In May 2006, after a short session, MacDonald dissolved the legislature, calling an election for June 13, 2006. MacDonald's Progressive Conservatives won a minority government in the 2006 general election
Nova Scotia general election, 2006
The 37th Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada....
and MacDonald retained his seat.
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 was personally re-elected in the riding of Inverness
Inverness (provincial electoral district)
Inverness is a provincial electoral district on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
, the Progressive Conservatives lost the election to the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
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...
, led by Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter is a Canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who is serving as the 27th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. A member of the New Democratic Party, he has led the Nova Scotia NDP since 2001. He was elected Premier in 2009 after defeating...
.
MacDonald stepped down as Nova Scotia PC Leader on June 24, 2009. He announced on August 5, 2009 that he would be resigning his seat in the legislature before the fall session began. He officially resigned on September 10, 2009.