John W. McDonald
Encyclopedia
John Walter McDonald was a lawyer and provincial politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as Mayor of Fort Macleod, Alberta and also led the Alberta Liberal Party
for a brief period from 1930 to 1932.
, Ontario
. He took his post secondary education at the University of Toronto
graduated in 1905 and became a lawyer. McDonald married his wife Margaret in 1907. He moved west and established became legal partners with Malcolm McKenzie
at the firm of McDonald, Martin and McKenzie. McDonald became Crown Prosecutor for the Judicial District of Macleod.
as a Liberal
candidate in the electoral district of Macleod
. He faced United Farmers
incumbent MLA William Shield
in a hotly contested race. The race went to a second vote count with Shield hanging on by just over 100 votes.
McDonald ran for leader of the Alberta Liberal Party after Joseph Shaw resigned. He was elected in a hotly contested race at a convention held on March 28, 1930. He won the leadership on the third ballot against Hugh John Montgomery
and William Howson
.
The 1930 Alberta general election
was held three months later. McDonald led the Liberals to four seat gain over the last election despite losing almost 2% of their popular vote. In his constituency McDonald was badly defeated having run for the second time against Shield in a two way race.
After the election McDonald remained leader of the party, the question of his leadership became a turbulent one as Liberals wondered who would represent them at the opening of the house. Rumors began swirling in the aftermath about a parliamentary coalition being formed with the Conservatives which both parties flatly denied. McDonald tried to find a seat, the nearest Liberal MLA Harvey Bossenberry
representing Pincher Creek
flatly denied he would resign to provide a by-election for McDonald.
The Alberta Liberals held their annual convention on November 29, 1930. The sixty delegates in attendance gave confidence to McDonald's party leadership on the condition that he must seek election at the first opportunity. The leadership question of the Assembly was fixed when the Liberal caucus chose George Webster
as House Leader. McDonald continued on as Leader for another year before tendering his resignation on March 1, 1932.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, 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...
. He served as Mayor of Fort Macleod, Alberta and also led the Alberta Liberal Party
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
for a brief period from 1930 to 1932.
Early life
John W. McDonald was born in VaughanVaughan, Ontario
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He took his post secondary education at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
graduated in 1905 and became a lawyer. McDonald married his wife Margaret in 1907. He moved west and established became legal partners with Malcolm McKenzie
Malcolm McKenzie
Malcolm McKenzie was a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and, briefly, as Alberta Provincial Treasurer.-Early life:...
at the firm of McDonald, Martin and McKenzie. McDonald became Crown Prosecutor for the Judicial District of Macleod.
Political career
McDonald ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1926 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
as a Liberal
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
candidate in the electoral district of Macleod
Macleod (provincial electoral district)
Macleod is a former provincial electoral district that existed from 1905 to 2004 in the province of Alberta.-1905 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite:...
. He faced United Farmers
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
incumbent MLA William Shield
William H. Shield
William Hetherington Shield was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1921 to 1935 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.-Political career:...
in a hotly contested race. The race went to a second vote count with Shield hanging on by just over 100 votes.
McDonald ran for leader of the Alberta Liberal Party after Joseph Shaw resigned. He was elected in a hotly contested race at a convention held on March 28, 1930. He won the leadership on the third ballot against Hugh John Montgomery
Hugh John Montgomery
Hugh John Montgomery was a merchant fox farmer and a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a politician on the municipal and provincial levels of government in Alberta. On the municipal level he served on the city council of Wetaskiwin holding various posts from 1906 to 1929...
and William Howson
William R. Howson
William Robinson Howson was an politician, judge, debt collector, soldier banker and real estate agent from Alberta, Canada.. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1936 sitting with the Liberal caucus in opposition...
.
The 1930 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1930
The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
was held three months later. McDonald led the Liberals to four seat gain over the last election despite losing almost 2% of their popular vote. In his constituency McDonald was badly defeated having run for the second time against Shield in a two way race.
After the election McDonald remained leader of the party, the question of his leadership became a turbulent one as Liberals wondered who would represent them at the opening of the house. Rumors began swirling in the aftermath about a parliamentary coalition being formed with the Conservatives which both parties flatly denied. McDonald tried to find a seat, the nearest Liberal MLA Harvey Bossenberry
Harvey Bossenberry
Harvey Bossenberry was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1935 sitting with the Liberal caucus in opposition.-Political career:...
representing Pincher Creek
Pincher Creek (provincial electoral district)
-1905 general election:The Pincher Creek electoral district was created in 1905 when Alberta became a province independent of the Northwest Territories. The district in its original boundaries occupied the southwestern region of the province when it was first created. The first general election...
flatly denied he would resign to provide a by-election for McDonald.
The Alberta Liberals held their annual convention on November 29, 1930. The sixty delegates in attendance gave confidence to McDonald's party leadership on the condition that he must seek election at the first opportunity. The leadership question of the Assembly was fixed when the Liberal caucus chose George Webster
George Harry Webster
George Harry "Cowboy Mayor" Webster was a politician and transportation expert in Alberta, Canada...
as House Leader. McDonald continued on as Leader for another year before tendering his resignation on March 1, 1932.