Ken McDonald (politician)

Ken McDonald
MP
McDonald in November 2016
Member of Parliament
for Avalon
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byScott Andrews
Mayor of Conception Bay South
In office
September 24, 2013 – March 2015
Preceded byWoodrow French
Succeeded byStephen Tessier
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Joseph McDonald

June 1959 (age 65)
Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Political partyLiberal (2015–present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (until 2015)
Children1
ResidenceConception Bay South[1]
Occupation
WebsiteOfficial website

Kenneth Joseph McDonald MP (born June 1959) is a Canadian politician who has been the member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Avalon since 2015, and the former mayor of Conception Bay South, the second largest municipality in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.[2][3][4]

Municipal politics

McDonald was Conception Bay South's councillor for Ward 3 from 1993 to 1996 and from 2009 to 2013.[5] McDonald unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2005 against Woodrow French, coming second out of four candidates.[2][6] On September 24, 2013, McDonald defeated French 3273 votes to 1703 during that year's municipal elections.[2][7][8]

In April 2015, McDonald threatened to block Nalcor Energy's heavy trucks from using roads in Conception Bay South during the construction at Muskrat Falls for the Lower Churchill Project.[9] After negotiations, the trucks were allowed as long as drivers drove below the speed limit and Nalcor repaired any damage.[10]

In 2014, McDonald closed a deal for a new town hall, which along with a stadium and fire house, account for $40 million of facilities scheduled to be completed in Fall 2015, of which C.B.S. would be responsible for $13.2 million.[11][12] As a councillor in 2010, McDonald opposed a $20 million plan to build a larger town hall because he prioritized other issues such as access to water and sewage services.[13]

Federal politics

McDonald was the Liberal candidate for the riding of Avalon in the 2015 Canadian federal election, replacing Scott Andrews, who was ejected from caucus in March 2015 after allegations of sexual misconduct.[14] McDonald was elected with over 55% of the vote, defeating Andrews, who finished second.[4]

He was re-elected in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.[15]

In October 2022, McDonald supported a Conservative motion asking the federal government to agree to the request of Andrew Furey, the Liberal Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, for an exemption on the carbon pricing for home heating fuels. In October 2023, he again supported a failed non-binding motion from the Conservatives against carbon pricing. He was the only member from the Liberal, Bloc, or NDP caucuses to vote in favour of the motion. McDonald cited the effect the policy had on rural and vulnerable people.[16] However, in November 2023, he voted alongside the Liberals and Bloc against a failed non-binding Conservative motion to expand the temporary pause on carbon tax for all home heating fuels across the country[17] and was accused of giving the middle finger to the Conservatives while voting.[18]

In January 2024, McDonald called for a leadership review for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,[19] a statement he retracted the following day.[20][21] In July 2024, McDonald announced on VOCM Radio that he would not seek re-election.[22]

Personal life

McDonald has lived in Conception Bay South his entire life.[5] Outside politics McDonald runs a home appliance repair business.[2] He has a son, born in 1986.[2]

Electoral history

2021 Canadian federal election: Avalon
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ken McDonald 18,608 50.10 +3.84 $46,697.12
Conservative Matthew Chapman 12,738 34.29 +3.19 $56,179.94
New Democratic Carolyn Davis 5,151 13.87 −3.41 $0.00
People's Lainie Stewart 647 1.74 – $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 37,144 99.27 +0.21 $110,063.67
Total rejected ballots 273 0.73 –0.22
Turnout 37,417 53.31 –7.06
Registered voters 70,189
Liberal hold Swing +0.33
Source: Elections Canada[23][24]
2019 Canadian federal election: Avalon
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ken McDonald 19,122 46.26 −9.64 $63,518.25
Conservative Matthew Chapman 12,855 31.10 +20.00 $37,082.47
New Democratic Lea Mary Movelle 7,142 17.28 +2.85 none listed
Green Greg Malone 2,215 5.36 +4.82 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 41,334 99.05 -0.57 $104,436.05
Total rejected ballots 397 0.95 +0.57
Turnout 41,731 59.33 −2.36
Eligible voters 70,341
Liberal hold Swing −14.82
Source: Elections Canada[25][26]


2015 Canadian federal election: Avalon
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ken McDonald 23,528 55.90 +22.73 $70,924.68
Independent Scott Andrews 7,501 17.82 –26.15 $63,334.50
New Democratic Jeannie Baldwin 6,075 14.43 –14.10 $70,840.75
Conservative Lorraine E. Barnett 4,670 11.10 –26.00 $58,123.54
Green Krista Byrne-Puumala 228 0.54 –0.09 $76.49
Strength in Democracy Jennifer McCreath 84 0.20 – –
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,086 100.00   $208,407.32
Total rejected ballots 162 0.38    
Turnout 42,248 62.33    
Eligible voters 67,781      
Liberal notional gain from Independent Swing +24.36
Source: Elections Canada[27][28]
2013 Conception Bay South mayoral election
Candidate[29] Vote[30] %
Ken McDonald 3,273 63.50
Woodrow French (X) 1,703 33.04
Gord Taylor 178 3.45
2009 Ward 3, Conception Bay South council election
Candidate Vote %
Ken McDonald 528 50.97
Gerard Tilley (X) 508 49.03
2005 Conception Bay South mayoral election
Candidate Vote %
Woodrow French 2,244 38.5
Ken McDonald 1,392 23.9
Marie Deacy 1,067 18.3
Sandra Baggs 1,060 18.2
Michael Jennings 63 1.1

References

  1. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Pennell, Josh (September 28, 2013). "20 Questions: Ken McDonald". The St. John's Telegram. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "C.B.S. Mayor Ken McDonald seeking federal Liberal nomination in Avalon". CBC. May 20, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Roberts, Terry (October 20, 2015). "Ken McDonald says 'we knew it would be a big win'". CBC News. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Mayor Ken McDonald". Enterprise Conception Bay South. 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Issues and Answers: Ken McDonald". NTV. October 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  7. ^ "Upsets and returning champs in municipal elections". CBC News. September 25, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  8. ^ "C.B.S. Mayor One of Many Incumbents Defeated". NTV. September 25, 2013. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. ^ "C.B.S. Mayor Ken McDonald preparing to square off with Nalcor". CBC News. April 9, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Ken McDonald giving Nalcor a chance for work in C.B.S." CBC News. April 10, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  11. ^ Rahman, Habibur (March 10, 2014). "NL: Conception Bay South plans to build new town hall; tender to be awarded soon". Atlantic Construction News. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  12. ^ MacEachern, Daniel (September 12, 2014). "NL: $40M in new projects for C.B.S. in 2015". The Nova Scotia Business Journal. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "Budget doubles for C.B.S town hall". CBC News. March 15, 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  14. ^ "Scott Andrews controversy will not be campaign issue, says Liberal Ken McDonald". CBC News. August 12, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  15. ^ "Liberals flip St. John's East, trail in Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame". CBC News. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  16. ^ Aiello, Rachel (October 4, 2023). "Liberal MP sides with Conservatives on failed motion to 'repeal all carbon taxes'". CTV News. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "Unofficial Vote Results - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  18. ^ "Avalon MP accused of giving middle finger during carbon tax vote". CBC News. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  19. ^ Martin, Laurence (January 24, 2024). "Liberal MP says he thinks Trudeau should face a leadership review". CBC News.
  20. ^ Cooke, Ryan (January 25, 2024). "MP Ken McDonald walks back his claim that Liberals need a leadership review". CBC News. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  21. ^ Baxter, David (January 25, 2024). "Liberal MP 'not calling' for Trudeau leadership review after clip saying 'yes'". Global News. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  22. ^ "'My Name Will Not Be on a Federal Election Ballot': Avalon MP Ken McDonald Not Seeking Re-Election". VOCM-FM. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  23. ^ "Election Night Results — Elections Canada". Elections Canada. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  24. ^ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  25. ^ "Results Validated by the Returning Officer". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  26. ^ "Final Election Expense Limits for Candidates: 43rd General Election - October 21, 2019". Elections Canada. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  27. ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Avalon (Validated results)". Elections Canada. October 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 26, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2015-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ "Town of Conception Bay South". Conceptionbaysouth.ca. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  30. ^ gpomroy (September 24, 2013). "Town of Conception Bay South". Conceptionbaysouth.ca. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.