Buchanan was born in Havelock, Ontario and raised on a farm in Belmont Township where his family has lived since 1834.
Buchanan studied at Queen's University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and also has a certificate from Teacher's College in Peterborough County.
[1] The NDP won a majority government under Bob Rae in the provincial election of 1990, and Buchanan defeated Jim Pollock by 896 votes.
Premier Bob Rae said that he was "a constant source of sound advice, political savvy and practical intelligence.
[7] The NDP was defeated in the provincial election of 1995, and Buchanan's personal popularity was not enough to save him from the party's loss of support in rural areas.