Description

MACDONALD, WILBUR BERNARD, farmer, racehorse owner and breeder, and chair of land use commission; b. 13 September 1933 in Orwell, son of Leo R. MacDonald and Helen MacDonald; m.4 August 1958 Pauline Murphy, and they had nine children, Dana, Helena, Laurena, Ronald, Bernard, Juanita, Timothy, Andrew, and Faber; Roman Catholic. MacDonald, a Conservative, was first elected in the general election of 1982 for 4th Queens. He was re-elected in the general election of 1986 for 4th Queens. He was elected in the general election of 1996 and re-elected in the general election of 2000 for the electoral district of Belfast-Pownal Bay. He was defeated in the general elections of 1989 and 1993 in 4th Queens. In 1982 MacDonald was chair of the Conservative caucus, and, in 1983 and 1984, chair of the Legislative Committees on agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and industry. From 1984 to 1986, he served as Minister of Industry. MacDonald held the position of Speaker from 1996 to 2000. He was also a chair of the Standing Committee on Legislative Management. From 1979 to 1980, MacDonald served as a Member of Parliament for Cardigan. He was a member of the House of Commons’ committees on agriculture, fisheries, and regional industrial expansion. He was defeated in the federal elections of 1980 and 1993, and in a by-election in 1981 for Cardigan. MacDonald received his primary education at the Orwell Public School and later attended St. Dunstan’s High School. He is a dairy, beef, and potato farmer. MacDonald was an owner and breeder of standardbred race horses. In 1979 he was a member of the National Beef Import Committee and in 1980 served as chairman of the Prince Edward Island Land Use Commission. MacDonald was a president of the Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation and a vice-president of the Prince Edward Island Right to Life Association. He was a member of the 4-H Movement, Vernon River Lions Club, and the Vernon River Council of the Knights of Columbus. Wilbur MacDonald lives in Orwell Corner with his family., CPG 1998-1999; HFER Cardigan pp. 1-2; WWPE1 p. 82; Guardian 17 April 1986, 12 March 1993, 23 June 1993, 14 September 1993, 27 May 1996.