RIP Flora MacDonald

[Natalka]

Longtime Canadian politician and Order of Canada recipient Flora MacDonald has died at the age of 89.







Born in North Sydney, N.S., in 1926, MacDonald served as a Progressive Conservative MP for Ontario's Kingston and the Islands riding for 16 years, from 1972 until 1988.

In 1976, MacDonald ran for party leadership, but lost to Joe Clark.

When Clark became Prime Minister in June 1979, MacDonald was named Canada's first female Secretary of State for External Affairs, the position that would later be renamed Minister of Foreign Affairs. She held the role from June 1979 until March 1980, steering the department through the Iranian hostage crisis.

MacDonald also served as the Minister of Employment and Immigration from September 1984 until June 1986, and as the Minister of Communications from June 1986 until December 1988.

She was elected a total of five times, before being defeated by Liberal Peter Milliken in 1988.

After retiring from politics, MacDonald became known for her charity work, volunteering with groups such as Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders.

In 1992 she appointed to the Order of Canada as an officer. Six years later, in 1998, she was promoted to become a companion in the order. The prestigious award recognized MacDonald as a "distinguished former Parliamentarian" who "worked to improve the human condition in Canada and around the world."

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/forme...t-89-1.2488295

[madchives]

thanks nat for starting this thread,

not sure why i liked flora - because she was a woman
(and not that many around then)
or that she was from the maritimes, (which has a big
place in my heart)
and had some terrific ideas, (for conservatives)
or that flora then spent a lot of time with humanitarian
projects in iran etc.
but what flora had to put up with to even get into
the politics here, enough to stop any anyone

(this is the same sort of info from ctv)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/flora-macdonald-longtime-politician-dead-at-89-1.3168239

[avoncallingu]

Thank-you for bringing this to our attention. Flora contributed greatly to Canada and humankind. RIP Flora!