Eat Your Words 2015

Brian Macdonald MLA, Fredericton West-Hanwell

Brian Macdonald, MLA for Fredericton West-Hanwell, has an extensive background in the military and in politics.After high school, Mr. Macdonald enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces, and studied politics and history at the Royal Military College of Canada. He continued on to graduate studies in England at the London School of Economics where, as a Mackenzie King Travelling Scholar, he earned his Masters Degree in politics.A member of the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Branch 4 Legion, Mr. Macdonald served in Petawawa, Gagetown, and overseas; he twice commanded troops in Bosnia. He worked on the currency exchange project in support of the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, and he helped coordinate international support to the drug control strategy with the Afghan Government.As Senior Policy Advisor for Defence Minister Peter MacKay, he was part of a small team that developed the Canada First Defence Strategy and worked on the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. For his work to replace Canada’s armoured vehicle fleet, Mr. Macdonald was awarded a Commendation by the Commander of the Canadian Army. He was named in the newspaper Embassy as one of the Top 60 Influencing Canadian Foreign Policy.He has been active in various community organizations and charities, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s youth citizenship award program.Mr. Macdonald was elected to represent Fredericton-Silverwood in the September 27, 2010, provincial election. He served as the Government Whip, and was named Legislative Secretary to the Premier, responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs and Military Affairs. He introduced the motion to dedicate the Highway of Heroes in New Brunswick, worked on job protection legislation for reservists, extended veterans plates to motorcycles, and introduced a Private Members Bill to give modern veterans priority hiring in the civil service, which was passed.He was re elected in the September 22, 2014, provincial election as the MLA for Fredericton West-Hanwell. He is a member of the Legislative Administration Committee and the Standing Committee on Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers.