Terry Donahoe

Terry Donahoe was born in Halifax on October 30, 1944.{{cite book|last1=Elliott|first1=Shirley B.|title=The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758–1983 : a biographical directory|url=https://archive.org/details/legislativeassem0000unse/page/60|accessdate=2018-04-23|year=1984|publisher=Public Archives of Nova Scotia|isbn=0-88871-050-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/legislativeassem0000unse/page/60 60]}} His father Richard was Mayor of Halifax, served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Public Health and Welfare and Attorney General and was a Senator.{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=df2c9b81-f924-4c42-affe-632157724d62&Language=E&Section=ALL|title=Richard Donahoe bio|publisher=Parliament of Canada|accessdate=2014-12-01}} Donahoe's older brother Art was also an MLA and served as Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia.{{cite web|url=https://www.smu.ca/academics/archives/arthur-r.html|title=Arthur Richard Donahoe: Doctor of Laws|publisher=St. Mary's University|accessdate=2014-12-01}}

Donahoe was educated at St. Mary's High School in Halifax, after which he went to Saint Mary's University. He graduated in 1964 and then attended Dalhousie Law School.{{cite web|url=https://www.smu.ca/academics/archives/terence-r-b-d.html|title=Terence Richard Boyd Donahoe: Doctor of Laws|publisher=St. Mary's University|accessdate=2014-11-29}} After completing his law degree, he joined the Halifax law firm of Blois, Nickerson, Palmeter and Bryson in 1967.

He was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 1978 provincial election as a Progressive Conservative, serving for 19 years. He represented Halifax Cornwallis from 1978 to 1993, then Halifax Citadel (succeeding his brother Art) until he resigned in 1997 to run federally.{{cite news|title=Donahoe bids adieu to provincial politics|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=May 8, 1997}}

In Cabinet, he served in several posts, including Education, Tourism and Culture, Environment, Labour, Attorney General and Chair of the Management Board. He held the education portfolio for eight years. In that ministry, he was a strong supporter of the public education system, pushing for more money for schools and championing new programs. He also amalgamated the several hundred school boards into just under thirty, and introduced the first Acadian school board, precursor of the present-day Provincial Acadian School Board. The Education Act of 1981 gave legal recognition to the category of "Acadian schools" where French is taught as a first language and where French is used as a language of instruction.

When Premier Donald Cameron stepped down on election night after the Conservatives' were defeated in 1993, Donahoe was named interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives and leader of the official opposition. In this capacity, he was credited with providing direction and holding together a demoralized caucus in disarray. He served for two years before being succeeded by John Hamm who later led the party to power in the 1999 provincial election.

In the 1997 federal election, he ran for the Progressive Conservatives in Halifax.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/97archive/may30/970530169.html|title=Issues take back seat to the Alexa factor|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=May 30, 1997|accessdate=2014-11-28|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010727103102/http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/97archive/may30/970530169.html|archivedate=July 27, 2001 }} That campaign was a three way race which saw New Democratic Party leader Alexa McDonough get elected, while Donahoe finished second, ahead of Liberal incumbent, Mary Clancy.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/97archive/jun3/970603128.html|title=Metro embraces Alexa|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=June 3, 1997|accessdate=2014-11-28|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010212115230/http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/97archive/jun3/970603128.html|archivedate=February 12, 2001}}

{{1997 Canadian federal election/Halifax}}

In 1985, Donahoe was awarded an honorary doctorate in education from l'Université Sainte-Anne. In 2001, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Saint Mary's University. Donahoe also donated a plaque commemorating the connection between Saint Mary's and the Charitable Irish Society.

Donahoe died of cancer on November 29, 2005, at the age of 61.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/AftUpdate/9000269.html|title=Former MLA Donahoe loses battle with cancer|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=December 1, 2005|accessdate=2014-11-28|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202030726/http://www.herald.ns.ca/AftUpdate/9000269.html|archivedate=December 2, 2005}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/former-cabinet-minister-donahoe-dies-1.548998|title=Former cabinet minister Donahoe dies|publisher=CBC News|date=November 30, 2005|access-date=2014-11-28|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070316180000/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2005/11/30/ns-donahoe20051130.html|archive-date=March 16, 2007 }}{{cite news|title=Terry Donahoe 1944–2005|work=The Globe and Mail|date=December 2, 2005}}

• [http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/hansard/han59-1/house_05dec08.htm#H] (Page 9830)

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Category:1944 births

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Category:Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia MLAs

Category:Schulich School of Law alumni

Category:Deaths from cancer in Nova Scotia

Category:Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia

Category:Politicians from Halifax, Nova Scotia

Category:Nova Scotia political party leaders

Category:Candidates in the 1997 Canadian federal election

Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons

Category:Nova Scotia candidates for Member of Parliament

Category:20th-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly