Career
He represented Lillooet in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1903 to 1907 and from 1909 to 1924 as a Conservative. He was born at Ste-Anne-de-Prescott, Ontario, the son of Archibald McDonald and Catherine Cattanach, and educated at Carillon Academy near Hawkesbury. In 1887, McDonald married Lillian MacMillan.
He was president of McDonald and McGillivray Limited. in Clinton.
McDonald was defeated by Mark Robert Eagleson when he ran for reelection in 1907, then defeated Eagleson in 1909 and was reelected in 1912, 1916 and 1920.