Daniel J. MacDonald
|
The Honourable Daniel Joseph MacDonald PC |
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|---|---|
| Minister of Veterans Affairs | |
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In office November 27, 1972 – June 3, 1979 |
|
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Arthur Laing |
| Succeeded by | Allan McKinnon |
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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 |
|
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In office October 30, 1972 – May 22, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Melvin McQuaid |
| Succeeded by | Wilbur MacDonald |
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In office February 8, 1980 – September 30, 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Wilbur MacDonald |
| Succeeded by | W. Bennett Campbell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Daniel Joseph MacDonald July 23, 1918 Bothwell, Prince Edward Island |
| Died | September 30, 1980 (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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