- Born
- May 4, 1955 — Louisbourg
- Family
- Lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with his wife Marilyn, and their two sons, Lauchlan and Liam.
- Education
- Honours degree in political science from University of King's College in Halifax in 1977
- Career
- Owner of the Fortress Inn in Louisbourg since 1988.
- Political Experience
- Appointed to the Senate of Canada on January 2, 2009. Worked as a researcher for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada Research Office from 1978 to 1980. Worked in the office of MLA Gerald Sheehy from 1980 to 1982 and then as Executive Assistant to Premier John Buchanan from 1982 to 1984. He was also Executive Assistant to Thomas McMillan from 1984 to 1985, and then to Stewart McInnes from 1985 to 1987. Ran for federal office in Cape Breton—East Richmond in 1988, placing second. Ran provincially for the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia in the riding of Dartmouth-Cole Harbour in 1993, placing second. Ran in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour again in 1998, placing third. Ran federally in 2004 in the riding of Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, placing third.
- Notable
- Made derisive remarks about Ottawa residents during the convoy protest in Ottawa in 2022 and later apologized in the Senate chamber.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before his appointment to the Senate, Michael L. MacDonald had a career in business in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He reportedly owned and operated the Fortress Inn in Louisbourg for many years. His career was focused on the tourism and hospitality industry. MacDonald also has a long history in politics, having served as the president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia.
Key Relationships & Connections
Michael L. MacDonald was appointed to the Senate in 2009 on the advice of then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. As a former president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, he has established connections within the provincial and federal Conservative party structures.
Public Controversies
Senator MacDonald was a central figure in the Canadian Senate expense scandal that began in 2012. An audit by the Auditor General of Canada flagged over $48,000 in living and travel expenses claimed by the senator. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigated his residency claims, as he had declared a home in Nova Scotia as his primary residence while claiming living expenses for his time in Ottawa. In 2016, the RCMP charged Senator MacDonald with fraud and breach of trust. However, in 2018, the Crown prosecutor withdrew all charges against him. The prosecutor stated that after a review of the evidence and the high bar set by a Supreme Court ruling in the related case of Senator Mike Duffy, there was no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction.