Donald William Cameron
Encyclopedia
Donald William Cameron (born May 20, 1946) was the 22nd Premier
of Nova Scotia
, Canada
, from February 1991 to June 1993.
His administration was known for a smaller cabinet, supporting anti-discrimination measures, and amending the human rights
act to extend protection to gays and lesbians. His government also privatized
Nova Scotia Power Incorporated
, the largest privatization move in Canada at the time. Cameron also introduced merit-based hiring codes, signed on to the Atlantic Procurement Agreement and introduced mandatory testing in grades 3, 6, 9 and 12 with public release of test scores. Cameron's government established a non-partisan electoral boundaries revision commission in an attempt to end gerrymandering
.
Cameron began the practice of non-political appointment of judges, deregulation of gasoline prices and made investments in double-stack rail service from the Port of Halifax (benefitting the TrentonWorks rail car plant in his riding) as well as four-lane highways. His efforts in ending party patronage marked a change in politics in Nova Scotia that his successors, John Savage
, and John Hamm
were able to continue, making appointments a more transparent process.
Cameron is also remembered as an aggressive supporter of a disastrous development project. He was instrumental, first as a local MLA, then as Industry Minister in the Government of John Buchanan
, and then as Premier, in the development of the Westray Mine
in Pictou County, Nova Scotia
.
Concerns — expressed by many — appeared in the provincial media regarding the safety of those working in such a mine. While coal mining typically releases explosive methane gas, the location of the mine was in an area of Pictou County that had an unusually high level of methane. Despite this, and despite the opposition from federal bureaucrats, opposition politicians and a Government of Canada crown agency responsible for coal mining in Cape Breton, the Cape Breton Development Corporation
(Devco), Westray Mine
was developed through the late eighties and opened in 1991 with significant provincial and federal government assistance.
On May 9, 1992 a methane gas explosion killed 26 miners.
Cameron's government is also remembered for continuing the Buchanan policy in supporting development of the controversial Point Aconi Generating Station
project.
In 1993, the government of Donald Cameron was defeated by the Nova Scotia Liberal Party under John Savage
, ending 15 years of Tory rule. Despite campaigning against patronage and implementing many anti-patronage practices during his tenure as Premier, Cameron himself later accepted a traditional patronage appointment for Maritime politicians in Boston, Massachusetts as Canadian Consul General
to New England.
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...
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, from February 1991 to June 1993.
His administration was known for a smaller cabinet, supporting anti-discrimination measures, and amending the human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
act to extend protection to gays and lesbians. His government also privatized
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
Nova Scotia Power Incorporated
Nova Scotia Power
Nova Scotia Power Inc. is a power generating and delivery company in Nova Scotia. It is privately owned by Emera and regulated by the provincial government via the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board .-History:...
, the largest privatization move in Canada at the time. Cameron also introduced merit-based hiring codes, signed on to the Atlantic Procurement Agreement and introduced mandatory testing in grades 3, 6, 9 and 12 with public release of test scores. Cameron's government established a non-partisan electoral boundaries revision commission in an attempt to end gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
.
Cameron began the practice of non-political appointment of judges, deregulation of gasoline prices and made investments in double-stack rail service from the Port of Halifax (benefitting the TrentonWorks rail car plant in his riding) as well as four-lane highways. His efforts in ending party patronage marked a change in politics in Nova Scotia that his successors, John Savage
John Savage (politician)
John Patrick Savage, OC, ONS was the 23rd Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada between 1993 and 1997.- Welsh birth :Born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, and keeping his Welsh accent to the end, Savage graduated from Queen's University of Belfast and practiced as a Medical doctor in Newport until he...
, and 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...
were able to continue, making appointments a more transparent process.
Cameron is also remembered as an aggressive supporter of a disastrous development project. He was instrumental, first as a local MLA, then as Industry Minister in the Government of John Buchanan
John Buchanan
John MacLennan Buchanan, PC, QC is a Canadian lawyer and former politician who served as the 20th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1978 to 1990 and as a member of the Senate of Canada from 1990 to 2006.-Early life:...
, and then as Premier, in the development of the Westray Mine
Westray Mine
The Westray Mine was a coal mine in Plymouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was the site of an underground methane explosion on May 9, 1992. The explosion resulted in the deaths of all 26 miners who were working underground at the time.-Background:...
in Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
Concerns — expressed by many — appeared in the provincial media regarding the safety of those working in such a mine. While coal mining typically releases explosive methane gas, the location of the mine was in an area of Pictou County that had an unusually high level of methane. Despite this, and despite the opposition from federal bureaucrats, opposition politicians and a Government of Canada crown agency responsible for coal mining in Cape Breton, the Cape Breton Development Corporation
Cape Breton Development Corporation
The Cape Breton Development Corporation, or DEVCO, was a Canadian federal government Crown corporation. It ceased operation on December 31, 2009, after being amalgamated with Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation ....
(Devco), Westray Mine
Westray Mine
The Westray Mine was a coal mine in Plymouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was the site of an underground methane explosion on May 9, 1992. The explosion resulted in the deaths of all 26 miners who were working underground at the time.-Background:...
was developed through the late eighties and opened in 1991 with significant provincial and federal government assistance.
On May 9, 1992 a methane gas explosion killed 26 miners.
Cameron's government is also remembered for continuing the Buchanan policy in supporting development of the controversial Point Aconi Generating Station
Point Aconi Generating Station
The Point Aconi Generating Station is a 165 MW Canadian electrical generating station located in the community of Point Aconi, Nova Scotia, a rural community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. A thermal generating station, the Point Aconi Generating Station is owned and operated by Nova...
project.
In 1993, the government of Donald Cameron was defeated by the Nova Scotia Liberal Party under John Savage
John Savage (politician)
John Patrick Savage, OC, ONS was the 23rd Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada between 1993 and 1997.- Welsh birth :Born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, and keeping his Welsh accent to the end, Savage graduated from Queen's University of Belfast and practiced as a Medical doctor in Newport until he...
, ending 15 years of Tory rule. Despite campaigning against patronage and implementing many anti-patronage practices during his tenure as Premier, Cameron himself later accepted a traditional patronage appointment for Maritime politicians in Boston, Massachusetts as Canadian Consul General
Canadian Consulate-General, Boston
The Consulate-General of Canada in Boston is a diplomatic mission of Canada located in Suite 400 of Three Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The Boston office covers the New England states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont...
to New England.