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Daniel J. MacDonald

The Honourable
Daniel Joseph MacDonald
PC
Minister of Veterans Affairs
In office
November 27, 1972 – June 3, 1979
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
Preceded by Arthur Laing
Succeeded by Allan McKinnon
In office
March 3, 1980 – September 30, 1980
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
Preceded by Allan McKinnon
Succeeded by Gilles Lamontagne (Acting)
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Cardigan
In office
October 30, 1972 – May 22, 1979
Preceded by Melvin McQuaid
Succeeded by Wilbur MacDonald
In office
February 8, 1980 – September 30, 1980
Preceded by Wilbur MacDonald
Succeeded by W. Bennett Campbell
Personal details
Born Daniel Joseph MacDonald
(1918-07-23)July 23, 1918
Bothwell, Prince Edward Island
Died September 30, 1980(1980-09-30) (aged 62)
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Pauline Peters
Children 7

Daniel Joseph MacDonald, PC (July 23, 1918 – September 30, 1980) was a Canadian politician from Prince Edward Island. He served as Minister of Veterans Affairs from 1972-1979 and again in 1980 until his death.

He was born on his family's farm in Bothwell, Prince Edward Island and was educated in a one-room schoolhouse.

At the age of 20, he bought his own farm at Bothwell Beach. In 1940, he enlisted in The Prince Edward Island Highlanders to fight in World War II. He was transferred to the Cape Breton Highlanders in 1943 and fought with the rank of sergeant in Italy where he was wounded during the assault on the Gothic Line. He returned to his unit after a few weeks and was seriously wounded on December 21, 1944 during the Battle of Senio River. As a result, his left arm and leg were amputated. Undiscouraged by his injuries, he returned to his farm, married a local woman named Pauline Peters, built a house and raised seven children: Blair, Heather, Gail, Daniel, Leo, Walter, and Gloria.

In 1962 he was elected to the Prince Edward Island House of Assembly and sat in the body for ten years. He served as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry from 1966 to 1972 when he resigned to run in the 1972 federal election. Elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Cardigan, he was appointed to the Cabinet of Pierre Trudeau as Minister of Veterans Affairs. He was defeated in the 1979 federal election but returned in the 1980 election after which he was reappointed to the Veterans Affairs portfolio. MacDonald reformed veterans' pensions to make them more generous and introduced disability pensions and pensions for Prisoners of War.


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