{{short description|Canadian politician (born 1951)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | honorific_suffix = ECNS | image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see WP:NONFREE --> | image_size = 150px | name = Don Downe | caption = | birth_date = 1951 | birth_place = Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island | death_date = | death_place = | office = MLA for Lunenburg West | term_start = May 25, 1993 | term_end = February 18, 2003 | predecessor = Marie Dechman | successor = Carolyn Bolivar-Getson | office3 = Minister of Finance | term_start3 = April 8, 1998 | term_end3 = August 16, 1999 | predecessor3 = Bill Gillis | successor3 = Neil LeBlanc | party = Liberal | occupation = }} '''Donald Richard Downe''' (born 1951) is a farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Lunenburg West in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 2003 as a Liberal member.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/constituencies/pdfs/lunenburg%20west.pdf|title=Electoral History for Lunenburg West|publisher=Nova Scotia Legislative Library|accessdate=2018-04-23}}</ref> Dowe was also the first mayor of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg from 2012-2016.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
==Early life== Downe was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He was a poultry farm owner and was president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.
==Political career==
===Provincial politics=== In 1992, he ran for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party,<ref>{{cite news|title=Liberal race gets second entry|work=Toronto Star|date=April 9, 1992}}</ref> losing on the second ballot to John Savage.<ref>{{cite news|title=Liberals call up new leader|work=The Globe and Mail|date=June 22, 1992}}</ref><ref name="leadership 2001">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/liberals-search-for-leader-1.255655|title=Liberals search for leader|publisher=CBC News|date=May 23, 2001|accessdate=2018-04-23}}</ref>
In the 1993 election, Downe defeated Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Marie Dechman by almost 3,400 votes in Lunenburg West.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/General%20Election%201993.pdf |title=Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1993 |publisher=Elections Nova Scotia |year=1993 |page=126 |accessdate=2014-11-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006070337/http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/General%20Election%201993.pdf |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993/05/26+107.raw+PE93Elect|title=Liberal sweep claims cabinet ministers|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=May 26, 1993|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000830230443/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993%2F05%2F26+107.raw+PE93Elect|archivedate=August 30, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 11, 1993, Downe was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Natural Resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993/06/12+100.raw+PE93Elect|title=Historic Liberal cabinet sworn in|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=June 12, 1993|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000830201132/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993%2F06%2F12+100.raw+PE93Elect|archivedate=August 30, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 1996, Downe was moved to Minister of Business and Consumer Services,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/cmns/msrv/viewRel.asp?relID=/cmns/msrv/nr-1996/nr96-03/96032206.htm|title=Premier announces cabinet realignment|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia|date=March 22, 1996|accessdate=2014-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Downe climbs cabinet ladder as new department boss|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=March 23, 1996}}</ref> but was shuffled again in June 1996, when he was named Minister of Transportation and Public Works.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/cmns/msrv/viewRel.asp?relID=/cmns/msrv/nr-1996/nr96-06/96062704.htm|title=Premier shuffles cabinet|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia|date=June 27, 1996|accessdate=2014-11-21}}</ref> When Russell MacLellan was sworn-in as premier in July 1997, Downe remained as Minister of Transportation and Public Works.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/cmns/msrv/viewRel.asp?relID=/cmns/msrv/nr-1997/nr97-07/97071802.htm|title=Premier MacLellan, new cabinet sworn in|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia|date=July 18, 1997|accessdate=2014-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/specialevents/libleader/stories/970719100.html|title=MacLellan makeover|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=July 19, 1997|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980204071951/http://www.herald.ns.ca/specialevents/libleader/stories/970719100.html|archivedate=February 4, 1998}}</ref>
Downe was re-elected in the 1998 election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/Dist39.pdf|title=Election Returns, 1998 (Lunenburg West)|publisher=Elections Nova Scotia|accessdate=2014-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998/03/25+270.raw+PE98Mar25+2|title=Grit veterans swept away by 'orange tide'|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=March 25, 1998|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050124010502/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998%2F03%2F25+270.raw+PE98Mar25+2|archivedate=January 24, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> On April 8, 1998, he was named Minister of Finance, Minister of Environment, Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, and Deputy Premier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998/04/09+214.raw+PE98Apr9+2|title=A cabinet with four legs|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=April 9, 1998|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050123224339/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998%2F04%2F09+214.raw+PE98Apr9+2|archivedate=January 23, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998/04/09+231.raw+PE98Apr9+2|title=Who's who in the new crew|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=April 9, 1998|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050123224500/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1998%2F04%2F09+231.raw+PE98Apr9+2|archivedate=January 23, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 1998, the Environment portfolio was transferred to Michel Samson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=19981211002|title=Premier MacLellan shuffles cabinet|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia|date=December 11, 1998|accessdate=2014-11-21}}</ref> The Liberals lost government in the 1999 election, but Downe was re-elected by almost 1,000 votes in his riding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/99LUNW.pdf|title=Election Returns, 1999 (Lunenburg West)|publisher=Elections Nova Scotia|accessdate=2014-11-21}}</ref> Considered a possible leadership candidate following MacLellan's resignation as leader, Downe declined to enter the race.<ref name="leadership 2001"/> On November 21, 2002, Downe announced that he would be not be running in the next provincial election,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20021127/News/61369/Downe-and-out-in-Lunenburg-West.htm|title=Downe and out in Lunenburg West|work=SouthShoreNow|date=November 27, 2002|accessdate=2014-11-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141121045749/http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20021127/News/61369/Downe-and-out-in-Lunenburg-West.htm|archivedate=November 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2002/11/22/f191.raw.html|title=Downe stepping down|date=November 22, 2002|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030322122858/http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2002/11/22/f191.raw.html|archivedate=March 22, 2003 }}</ref> and officially resigned as MLA on February 18, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20030219/News/53391/Don-Downe-resigns-seat.htm|title=Don Downe resigns seat|work=SouthShoreNow|date=February 18, 2003|accessdate=2014-11-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141121045750/http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20030219/News/53391/Don-Downe-resigns-seat.htm|archivedate=November 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2003/02/19/fNovaScotia136.raw.html|title=MLA Downe officially out of N.S. politics|date=February 19, 2003|accessdate=2014-11-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030707090705/http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2003/02/19/fNovaScotia136.raw.html|archivedate=July 7, 2003 }}</ref>
===Municipal politics=== In 2008, Downe returned to politics and was elected the first mayor of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://southshorenow.ca/archives/2008/102108/news/index035.php |title=Former cabinet minister Don Downe chosen as county's first mayor |publisher=SouthshoreNow News |date=October 21, 2008 |accessdate=2012-05-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124044717/http://southshorenow.ca/archives/2008/102108/news/index035.php |archivedate=November 24, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mayors-elected-around-nova-scotia-1.706433|title=Mayors elected around Nova Scotia|publisher=CBC News|date=October 19, 2008|accessdate=2014-11-21}}</ref> He was re-elected in 2012.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20121024/News/8941/Don-Downe-returned-as-mayor-of-Municipality-of-Lunenburg.htm|title=Don Downe returned as mayor of Municipality of Lunenburg|work=SouthShoreNow|date=October 24, 2012|accessdate=2014-11-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141121045750/http://www.southshorenow.ca/en/20121024/News/8941/Don-Downe-returned-as-mayor-of-Municipality-of-Lunenburg.htm|archivedate=November 21, 2014}}</ref> Downe did not for re-election in the 2016 municipal election.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1397623-downe-steps-away-from-politics-as-lunenburg-district-races-shape-up|title=Downe steps away from politics as Lunenburg district races shape up|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=September 16, 2016|accessdate=2016-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227230343/http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1397623-downe-steps-away-from-politics-as-lunenburg-district-races-shape-up|archive-date=December 27, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References == * [http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=dorais&t=67931&d=1015 Entry from Canadian Who's Who]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{reflist|3}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Downe, Don}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century mayors of places in Nova Scotia Category:Nova Scotia Liberal Party MLAs Category:Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia Category:Deputy premiers of Nova Scotia Category:Politicians from Charlottetown Category:People from Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia Category:20th-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly Category:21st-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly