Don Downe
{{short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
|honorific-suffix = ECNS
|image =
|imagesize = 150px |
| name = Don Downe
| caption =
| birth_date = 1951
| birth_place = Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence = Wileville, Nova Scotia
| office = MLA for Lunenburg West
| term_start = May 25, 1993
| term_end = February 18, 2003
| predecessor = Marie Dechman
| successor = Carolyn Bolivar-Getson
| office3 = Minister of Finance
| term_start3 = April 8, 1998
| term_end3 = August 16, 1999
| predecessor3 = Bill Gillis
| successor3 = Neil LeBlanc
| party = Liberal
| religion =
| occupation =
}}
Donald Richard Downe (born 1951) is a farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Lunenburg West in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 2003 as a Liberal member.{{cite web|url=https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/constituencies/pdfs/lunenburg%20west.pdf|title=Electoral History for Lunenburg West|publisher=Nova Scotia Legislative Library|accessdate=2018-04-23}}
Early life
Downe was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He was a poultry farm owner and was president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.
Political career
=Provincial politics=
In 1992, he ran for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party,{{cite news|title=Liberal race gets second entry|work=Toronto Star|date=April 9, 1992}} losing on the second ballot to John Savage.{{cite news|title=Liberals call up new leader|work=The Globe and Mail|date=June 22, 1992}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/liberals-search-for-leader-1.255655|title=Liberals search for leader|publisher=CBC News|date=May 23, 2001|accessdate=2018-04-23}}
In the 1993 election, Downe defeated Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Marie Dechman by almost 3,400 votes in Lunenburg West.{{cite web|url=http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/General%20Election%201993.pdf |title=Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1993 |publisher=Elections Nova Scotia |year=1993 |page=126 |accessdate=2014-11-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006070337/http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/General%20Election%201993.pdf |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993/05/26+107.raw+PE93Elect|title=Liberal sweep claims cabinet ministers|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=May 26, 1993|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000830230443/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993%2F05%2F26+107.raw+PE93Elect|archivedate=August 30, 2000|url-status=dead}} On June 11, 1993, Downe was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Natural Resources.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993/06/12+100.raw+PE93Elect|title=Historic Liberal cabinet sworn in|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=June 12, 1993|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000830201132/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993%2F06%2F12+100.raw+PE93Elect|archivedate=August 30, 2000|url-status=dead}} In March 1996, Downe was moved to Minister of Business and Consumer Services,{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/cmns/msrv/viewRel.asp?relID=/cmns/msrv/nr-1996/nr96-03/96032206.htm|title=Premier announces cabinet realignment|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia|date=March 22, 1996|accessdate=2014-11-21}}{{cite news|title=Downe climbs cabinet ladder as new department boss|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=March 23, 1996}} but was shuffled again in June 1996, when he was named Minister of Transportation and Public Works.{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/cmns/msrv/viewRel.asp?relID=/cmns/msrv/nr-1996/nr96-06/96062704.htm|title=Premier shuffles cabinet|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia|date=June 27, 1996|accessdate=2014-11-21}} When Russell MacLellan was sworn-in as premier in July 1997, Downe remained as Minister of Transportation and Public Works.{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/cmns/msrv/viewRel.asp?relID=/cmns/msrv/nr-1997/nr97-07/97071802.htm|title=Premier MacLellan, new cabinet sworn in|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia|date=July 18, 1997|accessdate=2014-11-21}}{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/specialevents/libleader/stories/970719100.html|title=MacLellan makeover|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=July 19, 1997|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980204071951/http://www.herald.ns.ca/specialevents/libleader/stories/970719100.html|archivedate=February 4, 1998}}
Downe was re-elected in the 1998 election.{{cite web|url=http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/Dist39.pdf|title=Election Returns, 1998 (Lunenburg West)|publisher=Elections Nova Scotia|accessdate=2014-11-21}}{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998/03/25+270.raw+PE98Mar25+2|title=Grit veterans swept away by 'orange tide'|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=March 25, 1998|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050124010502/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998%2F03%2F25+270.raw+PE98Mar25+2|archivedate=January 24, 2005|url-status=dead}} On April 8, 1998, he was named Minister of Finance, Minister of Environment, Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, and Deputy Premier.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998/04/09+214.raw+PE98Apr9+2|title=A cabinet with four legs|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=April 9, 1998|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050123224339/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998%2F04%2F09+214.raw+PE98Apr9+2|archivedate=January 23, 2005|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998/04/09+231.raw+PE98Apr9+2|title=Who's who in the new crew|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=April 9, 1998|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050123224500/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998%2F04%2F09+231.raw+PE98Apr9+2|archivedate=January 23, 2005|url-status=dead}} In December 1998, the Environment portfolio was transferred to Michel Samson.{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=19981211002|title=Premier MacLellan shuffles cabinet|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia|date=December 11, 1998|accessdate=2014-11-21}} The Liberals lost government in the 1999 election, but Downe was re-elected by almost 1,000 votes in his riding.{{cite web|url=http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/99LUNW.pdf|title=Election Returns, 1999 (Lunenburg West)|publisher=Elections Nova Scotia|accessdate=2014-11-21}} Considered a possible leadership candidate following MacLellan's resignation as leader, Downe declined to enter the race. On November 21, 2002, Downe announced that he would be not be running in the next provincial election,{{cite web|url=http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20021127/News/61369/Downe-and-out-in-Lunenburg-West.htm|title=Downe and out in Lunenburg West|work=SouthShoreNow|date=November 27, 2002|accessdate=2014-11-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141121045749/http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20021127/News/61369/Downe-and-out-in-Lunenburg-West.htm|archivedate=November 21, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2002/11/22/f191.raw.html|title=Downe stepping down|date=November 22, 2002|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030322122858/http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2002/11/22/f191.raw.html|archivedate=March 22, 2003 }} and officially resigned as MLA on February 18, 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20030219/News/53391/Don-Downe-resigns-seat.htm|title=Don Downe resigns seat|work=SouthShoreNow|date=February 18, 2003|accessdate=2014-11-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141121045750/http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20030219/News/53391/Don-Downe-resigns-seat.htm|archivedate=November 21, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2003/02/19/fNovaScotia136.raw.html|title=MLA Downe officially out of N.S. politics|date=February 19, 2003|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030707090705/http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2003/02/19/fNovaScotia136.raw.html|archivedate=July 7, 2003 }}
=Municipal politics=
In 2008, Downe returned to politics and was elected the first mayor of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.{{cite news|url=http://southshorenow.ca/archives/2008/102108/news/index035.php |title=Former cabinet minister Don Downe chosen as county's first mayor |publisher=SouthshoreNow News |date=October 21, 2008 |accessdate=2012-05-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124044717/http://southshorenow.ca/archives/2008/102108/news/index035.php |archivedate=November 24, 2011 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mayors-elected-around-nova-scotia-1.706433|title=Mayors elected around Nova Scotia|publisher=CBC News|date=October 19, 2008|accessdate=2014-11-21}} He was re-elected in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20121024/News/8941/Don-Downe-returned-as-mayor-of-Municipality-of-Lunenburg.htm|title=Don Downe returned as mayor of Municipality of Lunenburg|work=SouthShoreNow|date=October 24, 2012|accessdate=2014-11-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141121045750/http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20121024/News/8941/Don-Downe-returned-as-mayor-of-Municipality-of-Lunenburg.htm|archivedate=November 21, 2014}} Downe did not for re-election in the 2016 municipal election.{{cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1397623-downe-steps-away-from-politics-as-lunenburg-district-races-shape-up|title=Downe steps away from politics as Lunenburg district races shape up|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=September 16, 2016|accessdate=2016-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227230343/http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1397623-downe-steps-away-from-politics-as-lunenburg-district-races-shape-up|archive-date=December 27, 2016|url-status=dead}}
References
- [http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=dorais&t=67931&d=1015 Entry from Canadian Who's Who]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{reflist|3}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downe, Don}}
Category:21st-century mayors of places in Nova Scotia
Category:Nova Scotia Liberal Party MLAs
Category:Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia
Category:Deputy premiers of Nova Scotia
Category:Politicians from Charlottetown
Category:People from Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia
Category:20th-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Category:21st-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly