Education
MacDonald holds an Master of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Arts from Bishop"s University.
MacDonald holds an Master of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Arts from Bishop"s University.
In 2013, MacDonald was appointed as Prime Minister Stephen Harper"s eighth Director of Communications. Education MacDonald was the Chief of Staff at Canadian Broadcasting Company Television in Toronto, followed later by his role as the Director of Public Relations and Operations at Canadian Broadcasting Company Corporate Communications in Ottawa. MacDonald then moved into his role as Vice President of Corporate and Public Affairs with Veritas Corporation, a full-service communications agency in Toronto.
In 2009, MacDonald moved back to Ottawa and was hired as Carleton University"s Director of Communications.
He would take a leave of absence from this role so he could run in the 2011 election, and returned for a short period of time. MacDonald served as the Department of Aboriginal Affairs Minister"s Director of Communications for almost two years, serving under John Duncan then Bernard Valcourt.
Rumours began on September 10, 2013 when Ottawa journalist Don Martin wrote that "sources" said MacDonald was about to be named Harper"s Communications Director. MacDonald"s initial response seemed like he was denying the rumour, succinctly replying "I’m happy working for Minister Valcourt.
Thanks. Jason." Two days later MacDonald was named as the Prime Minister" General’ s Office"s Director of Communications.
MacDonald was elected as the Ontario Personal Computer candidate for the riding of Ottawa South, and was faced with the tough challenge of facing off against then-sitting Premier Dalton McGuinty. Since Personal Computer Party leader Tim Hudak was unilingual English, MacDonald was given the responsibility of speaking for the Ontario Personal Computer Party during the French leaders" debate. Rumours began on September 10, 2013 when Ottawa journalist Don Martin tweeted that "sources" said MacDonald was about to be named Harper"s Communications Director.
MacDonald"s initial response seemed like he was denying the rumour, succinctly replying "I’m happy working for Minister Valcourt.
Thanks. Jason." Two days later MacDonald was named as the Prime Minister" General’ s Office"s Director of Communications, replacing Andrew MacDougall, who left for a job in England. Former Paul Martin speechwriter Scott Reid described MacDonald as "a great guy," "genuinely decent," and "well-motivated." The National Conference on Chemistry of Materials maintains these allegations are "categorically false, offensive and defamatory" and demanded a retraction and apology.
Subsequently, on May 26, 2014, the National Conference on Chemistry of Materials filed a defamation lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court against Jason MacDonald and Prime Minister Stephen Harper as it had not received a retraction. In February 2015, Jason MacDonald was questioned under oath in the defamation case and Stephen Harper claimed parliamentary privilege to avoid testifying.
That same month, MacDonald resigned as the Prime Minister"s communications director
