Born in Kingston, Ontario, McDonald, originally a miner by profession,[1] is a long-time MLA, Cabinet minister, and the fifth premier of Yukon.
He is a founding member, and currently chair, of Northern Vision Development, which has focused on residential and property revitalization, commercial real estate, and hospitality services in Yukon.
McDonald acted as critic for Rural Development, Labour, Occupational Health and Safety, and Workers' Compensation.
Other initiatives of his included: the Native Teacher Education Program; the opening and paving of the South Klondike Highway, which provided tidewater access for Yukon mines; the transfer of private-sector municipal airports and the Alaska Highway to the Yukon Government; and the establishment of the first home ownership programs and homesteader policies in the territory.
With the federal government, a devolution accord on the Transfer of Lands and Resource Management to the Yukon was negotiated (ultimately implemented in 2003).
McDonald also emphasized intergovernmental and circumpolar relations, established new territorial parks and community schools, and created new government strategies for restorative justice, protected areas, trade and investment, forestry, and energy.
While his government left a $60 million budget surplus and earned a good reputation for promoting social programs and protecting the environment, the Yukon had suffered from a decline in the territory's economy due to a fall in world metal prices and the closure of several mines.
Shortly after his exit from politics, McDonald was appointed the volunteer president of the 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Society for the upcoming Whitehorse event – the first held north of the 60th parallel.
[3] McDonald focused on using the Games to promote a vision of pan-northernism and collaboration and he successfully oversaw the modernization of much of Whitehorse's sports infrastructure.
[4] He was named the Yukon Commissioner's Volunteer of the Year in 2007 in recognition for his volunteerism and leadership of the Canada Winter Games.
In September 2008, McDonald was appointed to the Board of Directors of Northwestel, the communications company providing service to the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.