Piers McDonald

Infobox Premier


name = The Honourable Piers McDonald
caption = The Hon. Piers McDonald
birth_date =birth date and age|1955|8|4
birth_place = Kingston, Ontario
residence = Whitehorse, Yukon
death_date =
death_place =
order = 5th Premier of the Yukon
term_start = September 30, 1996
term_end = April 17, 2000
predecessor = John Ostashek (Yukon Party)
successor = Pat Duncan (Liberal)
party = New Democratic Party
religion =
spouse =

Piers McDonald (born August 4, 1955) is a Yukon politician and trade unionist.

Born in Kingston, Ontario, McDonald, a miner by profession, was vice-president of the Yukon Federation of Labour from 1981-1982. He won election to the Yukon legislature on behalf of the NDP in 1982 and became minister of education and minister of community and transport when Tony Penikett led the NDP to power in 1985. In 1989, McDonald became minister of finance and served in that position until 1991 when he again became minister of education until the NDP's defeat in the 1992 election.

McDonald succeeded Penikett as NDP leader and leader of the opposition in 1995 and led the NDP back to power in the 1996 election winning 11 of the territory's 17 seats but in 2000 his government was defeated and McDonald narrowly lost his seat in the legislature. While his government left a $60 million budget surplus and earned a good reputation for promoting social programs and protecting the environment, it had suffered from a decline in the territory's economy due to a fall in world metal prices and the closure of several mines. This became a major campaign issue along with the resulting mass exodus of people from the Yukon with 10% of the population leaving between 1996 and 2000. Soon after his electoral defeat McDonald resigned as party leader.

In 2003, he supported Bill Blaikie's campaign to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party. In 2008, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. [cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=5447|title=Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada]

Currently, McDonald is chairing the Canada Winter Games Whitehorse 2007 committee.

References