John W. McDonald

John Walter McDonald (May 21, 1878 – November 8, 1950) was a lawyer and provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as Mayor of Fort Macleod, Alberta and also led the Alberta Liberal Party for a brief period from 1930 to 1932.

John W. McDonald was born in Vaughan, Ontario. He took his post secondary education at the University of Toronto graduated in 1905 and became a lawyer. McDonald married his wife Margaret in 1907. He moved west and established became legal partners with Malcolm McKenzie at the firm of McDonald, Martin and McKenzie. McDonald became Crown Prosecutor for the Judicial District of Macleod.

McDonald ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1926 Alberta general election as a Liberal candidate in the electoral district of Macleod. He faced United Farmers incumbent MLA William Shield in a hotly contested race. The race went to a second vote count with Shield hanging on by just over 100 votes.

McDonald ran for leader of the Alberta Liberal Party after Joseph Shaw resigned. He was elected in a hotly contested race at a convention held on March 28, 1930. He won the leadership on the third ballot against Hugh John Montgomery and William Howson.

The 1930 Alberta general election was held three months later. McDonald led the Liberals to four seat gain over the last election despite losing almost 2% of their popular vote. In his constituency McDonald was badly defeated having run for the second time against Shield in a two way race.

After the election McDonald remained leader of the party, the question of his leadership became a turbulent one as Liberals wondered who would represent them at the opening of the house. Rumors began swirling in the aftermath about a parliamentary coalition being formed with the Conservatives which both parties flatly denied. McDonald tried to find a seat, the nearest Liberal MLA Harvey Bossenberry representing Pincher Creek flatly denied he would resign to provide a by-election for McDonald.

The Alberta Liberals held their annual convention on November 29, 1930. The sixty delegates in attendance gave confidence to McDonald's party leadership on the condition that he must seek election at the first opportunity. The leadership question of the Assembly was fixed when the Liberal caucus chose George Webster as House Leader. McDonald continued on as Leader for another year before tendering his resignation on March 1, 1932.