Terry Donahoe
Encyclopedia
Terence Richard Boyd Donahoe (October 30, 1944 – November 30, 2005) was a former Nova Scotia
opposition leader, cabinet minister, and MLA.
Donahoe was born in Halifax
on Oct. 30, 1944, and came from a prominent political family. His father Richard
was Mayor of Halifax and later served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Public Health and Welfare and Attorney-General between 1956 and 1970 and was a Senator
from 1979 to 1984vhttp://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/hansard/han58-1/h00apr27.htm. Terry's older brother Art was also an MLA and served as Deputy Speaker from 1978 to 1981 and then Speaker of the House
from 1981 until 1991, before becoming Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Donahoe was educated at St. Mary's High School in Halifax, after which he went to Saint Mary's University. He graduated in 1964 and then attended Dalhousie Law School
. After completing his law degree, he joined the Halifax law firm of Blois, Nickerson, Palmeter and Bryson in 1967.
He was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
in the 1978 provincial election
as a Progressive Conservative
, serving for 19 years. He represented Halifax Cornwallis
from 1978 to 1993, then Halifax Citadel
(succeeding his brother Art) until he resigned in 1997 to run federally.
In Cabinet, he served in several posts, including Minister of Education, and Attorney General. He held the education portfolio for eight years. In that ministry, he was a strong supporter of the public education system, pushing for more money for schools and championing new programs. He also amalgamated the several hundred school boards into just under thirty, and introduced the first Acadian
school board.
When Premier Donald Cameron
stepped down on election night after the Conservatives' were defeated in 1993, Donahoe was named interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives and leader of the official opposition. In this capacity, he was credited with providing direction and holding together a demoralized caucus in disarray. He served for two years before being succeeded by John Hamm
who later led the party to power in the 1999 provincial election.
In the 1997 federal election
, he ran for the Progressive Conservatives
in Halifax
, losing to New Democratic Party
leader Alexa McDonough
. Donahoe finished second, ahead of Liberal
incumbent, Mary Clancy
.
In 2001, Donahoe received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Saint Mary's University. Donahoe also donated a plaque commemorating the connection between Saint Mary's and the Charitable Irish Society.
Donahoe died of cancer on November 30, 2005, at the age of 61. He left behind his wife Lynne and his daughter Moira Schrader, brother, Arthur; and sisters Cathleen, Sheila, Nora and Ellen. The flags at Province House in Halifax and on provincial buildings in his former constituency were lowered at half-mast when he died.
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...
opposition leader, cabinet minister, and MLA.
Donahoe was born in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
on Oct. 30, 1944, and came from a prominent political family. His father Richard
Richard Donahoe
Richard Alphonsus Donahoe, Q.C., K.S.G. was a Canadian lawyer and politician.Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the son of James Donahoe and Rebecca Duggan, he was educated at Dalhousie University and set up practice in Halifax. In 1936, he married Mary Boyd...
was Mayor of Halifax and later served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Public Health and Welfare and Attorney-General between 1956 and 1970 and was a Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
from 1979 to 1984vhttp://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/hansard/han58-1/h00apr27.htm. Terry's older brother Art was also an MLA and served as Deputy Speaker from 1978 to 1981 and then Speaker of the House
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
from 1981 until 1991, before becoming Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Donahoe was educated at St. Mary's High School in Halifax, after which he went to Saint Mary's University. He graduated in 1964 and then attended Dalhousie Law School
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. After completing his law degree, he joined the Halifax law firm of Blois, Nickerson, Palmeter and Bryson in 1967.
He was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
in the 1978 provincial election
Nova Scotia general election, 1978
The 29th Nova Scotia general election was held on September 19, 1978 to elect members of the 52nd House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party....
as a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, registered under the Nova Scotia Elections Act as the "Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia", is a moderate right-of-centre political party in Nova Scotia, Canada....
, serving for 19 years. He represented Halifax Cornwallis
Halifax Cornwallis
Halifax Cornwallis was a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elected one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It existed from 1967 to 1993.-Members of the Legislative Assembly:...
from 1978 to 1993, then Halifax Citadel
Halifax Citadel
Halifax Citadel is a provincial electoral district in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Leonard Preyra of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
(succeeding his brother Art) until he resigned in 1997 to run federally.
In Cabinet, he served in several posts, including Minister of Education, and Attorney General. He held the education portfolio for eight years. In that ministry, he was a strong supporter of the public education system, pushing for more money for schools and championing new programs. He also amalgamated the several hundred school boards into just under thirty, and introduced the first Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
school board.
When Premier Donald Cameron
Donald William Cameron
Donald William Cameron 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...
stepped down on election night after the Conservatives' were defeated in 1993, Donahoe was named interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives and leader of the official opposition. In this capacity, he was credited with providing direction and holding together a demoralized caucus in disarray. He served for two years before being succeeded by 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...
who later led the party to power in the 1999 provincial election.
In the 1997 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
, he ran for the Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
in Halifax
Halifax (electoral district)
Halifax is a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1867.Since October 14, 2008, its Member of the Parliament has been Megan Leslie of the New Democratic Party....
, losing to New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
leader Alexa McDonough
Alexa McDonough
Alexa Ann Shaw McDonough OC is a Canadian politician who became the first woman to lead a major, recognized political party in Canada, when she was elected the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party's leader in 1980...
. Donahoe finished second, ahead of Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
incumbent, Mary Clancy
Mary Clancy
Mary Catherine Clancy was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997. By career, she was a lawyer....
.
In 2001, Donahoe received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Saint Mary's University. Donahoe also donated a plaque commemorating the connection between Saint Mary's and the Charitable Irish Society.
Donahoe died of cancer on November 30, 2005, at the age of 61. He left behind his wife Lynne and his daughter Moira Schrader, brother, Arthur; and sisters Cathleen, Sheila, Nora and Ellen. The flags at Province House in Halifax and on provincial buildings in his former constituency were lowered at half-mast when he died.