[2] He entered provincial politics in the 1993 election, defeating Peter Mancini and Norm Ferguson to win the Cape Breton South riding.
[3] MacDonald served as a backbench member of John Savage's government until June 27, 1996, when he was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Labour.
[4] When Russell MacLellan was sworn-in as premier in July 1997, MacDonald was named Minister of Economic Development and Tourism.
[7][8] Following the election, MacDonald remained at Economic Development and Tourism, but was given six other portfolios in the minority government, including the Priorities and Planning Secretariat, and responsibility for Sysco.
[2][16] In May 2013, MacDonald came under scrutiny for taking a four-week holiday during the spring session of the Nova Scotia Legislature.