Donald MacDonald (Nova Scotia politician) facts for kids

Donald MacDonald (born September 12, 1909 – died September 25, 1986) was an important Canadian leader. He was a politician who believed in helping everyone in society. He was also a trade unionist, which means he worked to improve conditions for workers. MacDonald led a political party in Nova Scotia and was elected to their government. Later, he became the President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), a big group that represents workers across Canada.

Early Life and Work

Donald MacDonald was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on September 12, 1909. When he was a boy, his family moved to Sydney, Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island.

By the time he was 17, he started working at the coal piers. These piers were part of the Sydney Steel Plant. He also went to Sydney Academy High School and later attended St. Francis Xavier University.

Standing Up for Workers

When Donald MacDonald was 21, he became the president of a local branch of the United Mine Workers (UMW). This was a union for miners. He continued to work at the pier throughout the 1930s.

He believed that workers needed a strong voice. He wanted them to be heard in the government.

Becoming a Political Leader

After a big strike by the UMW in 1940, MacDonald decided to get more involved in politics. He joined the governing board of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). This was a political party that aimed to help working people.

In 1941, he ran for election in the area of Cape Breton South. He won the election by a very small number of votes. He became one of three CCF members elected to the Nova Scotia government. Because of this, he became the leader of the CCF party in Nova Scotia until 1945.

He tried to get re-elected in 1945. Even though more people voted for him, he lost the election. This was partly because of changes to the voting areas. However, the CCF party still kept two seats in the government.

Leading National Labour

In 1942, Donald MacDonald started working for the Canadian Congress of Labour (CCL). This was another large group that supported workers. After his political election loss in 1945, he became the regional director for the Maritime Provinces.

By 1951, he became the CCL's secretary-treasurer. This meant he was a very important leader in the organization. He played a key role in creating the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) in 1956. The CLC brought together many different labour groups in Canada.

He was elected as the secretary-treasurer of the CLC when it was founded in 1956. In 1967, he became the acting president of the CLC. This happened because the previous president, Claude Jodoin, became ill. In 1968, MacDonald was officially elected as president. He served three terms and retired in 1974.

During his time as president, he also became the first non-European to lead the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. This was a global organization for workers' rights.

Honours and Legacy

Donald MacDonald was recognized for his important work in Canada. On December 22, 1972, he was given the title of an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is a high honour given to people who have made a big difference in Canada.

He also received other awards, including the Canadian Centennial Medal. He was also given the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Donald MacDonald passed away in Ottawa, Ontario, on September 25, 1986. He had been battling cancer.