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Rodney MacDonald | |
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| 26thPremier of Nova Scotia | |
| In office February 24, 2006 – June 19, 2009 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Lieutenant Governor | Myra Freeman Mayann Francis |
| Preceded by | John Hamm |
| Succeeded by | Darrell Dexter |
| Member of theNova Scotia House of Assembly forInverness | |
| In office July 27, 1999 – September 10, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Charlie MacDonald |
| Succeeded by | Allan MacMaster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rodney Joseph MacDonald (1972-01-02)January 2, 1972 (age 53) Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
Rodney Joseph MacDonald (born January 2, 1972) is a Canadian politician, educator and musician who served as the 26thpremier of Nova Scotia from 2006 to 2009 and as MLA for the riding ofInverness in theNova Scotia House of Assembly from 1999 to 2009.
MacDonald was born inInverness, Nova Scotia but spent his formative years in the community ofMabou, 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 fromSt. Francis Xavier University in 1994, receiving aBachelor of Science inPhysical Education with a minor in English and a Nova Scotia Teaching Licence.[citation needed]
He was employed as a senior high teacher with theStrait 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.[citation needed] 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]
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MacDonald has toured hisfiddle music throughoutAtlantic Canada, Central Canada and the northeastern United States. He is also an accomplishedstep 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 inSydney 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) andTraditionally Rockin' (1997, with his cousinGlenn Graham). In 1998 he received two nominations for theEast Coast Music Awards. MacDonald was also included on the 2004Smithsonian releaseThe Beaton Family of Mabou: Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music and numerous other compilations.
MacDonald was first elected to theLegislative Assembly of Nova Scotia in the1999 provincial election, representing the riding of Inverness in westernCape Breton Island.[5] He was re-elected in2003.[6] He served inPremierJohn 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 theProgressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia. Theleadership race culminated in MacDonald winning the party's leadership on a second ballot on February 11, 2006. He was sworn in asPremier 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 the2006 general election and MacDonald retained his seat.[12]
On May 4, 2009, MacDonald's government lost aconfidence 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 ofInverness,[13] the Progressive Conservatives lost theelection to theNova Scotia New Democratic Party, led byDarrell 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]
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 ofThe 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.[citation needed] 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] includingpiping plover,bank swallow,Canada warbler,scaly pelt lichen, andmoonwort.[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]
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