He represented the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party until he was expelled as an MLA on October 30, 1986, and was elected as an independent on February 24, 1987.
[6][7] MacLean was the center of controversy when a bar run by him had its liquor licence and video lottery terminal certificate suspended for a brief period after violating exotic dancing laws.
[8] MacLean entered provincial politics in the 1981 election, defeating Liberal incumbent Bill MacEachern by 62 votes in the new Inverness South riding.
[12] On October 3, 1986, MacLean pleaded guilty to four counts of uttering forged documents worth more than $21,000 on his expense accounts and was fined $6,000.
[21] On October 30, in a special one day sitting of the legislature, MacLean was expelled as MLA, as the House passed legislation which authorized the expulsion of a member convicted of an offense punishable by a jail term of more than five years.
[23][24] On November 28, 1986, MacLean's lawyer filed papers with the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, challenging the law that stripped him of his seat.