Donald MacDonald OC |
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2nd President of the Canadian Labour Congress | |
In office 1967–1974 |
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Preceded by | Claude Jodoin |
Succeeded by | Joe Morris |
1st Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress | |
In office 1956–1967 |
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President | Claude Jodoin |
Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Congress of Labour | |
In office 1951–1956 |
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1st Leader of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation | |
In office 1941–1945 |
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Preceded by | new party |
Succeeded by | Russell Cunningham |
Member of the Legislative Assembly | |
In office October 28, 1941 – October 23, 1945 |
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Preceded by | George M. Morrison |
Succeeded by | John Smith MacIvor |
Constituency | Cape Breton South |
Majority | 62 votes |
Personal details | |
Born |
Halifax, Nova Scotia |
September 12, 1909
Died | September 25, 1986 Ottawa, Ontario |
(aged 77)
Political party | Co-operative Commonwealth Federation |
Spouse(s) | Gertrude MacDonald |
Children | Donald MacDonald |
Residence | Ottawa |
Alma mater | St. Francis Xavier University |
Occupation | Trade Unionist/Politician |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Donald MacDonald, OC (September 12, 1909 – September 25, 1986) was a Canadian social democratic politician and trade unionist 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).
He was born in Halifax 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.).
At the age of 21, Donald MacDonald became the president of the United Mine Workers (UMW) Local 4560. He worked at the pier throughout the 1930s.
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 Federation'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.