Norman MacLeod (Canadian businessman)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Norman MacLeod was a Canadian businessman and political figure serving as president of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1980 until 1982. Born in Brandon, Manitoba, MacLeod moved to Vancouver where he was politically active and later moved to Toronto to pursue his career. In the business world MacLeod served on the executive of Household Finance.
He was elected party president by a two vote margin over former cabinet minister Martin O'Connell. As the party was experiencing financial difficulties during his tenure he turned down the honorarium of about $15,000 a year that the party traditionally offered its president. Prior to becoming party president, MacLeod served as Ontario campaign chair for the party during the 1980 federal election and served as president of the Ontario section of the federal Liberal Party.
MacLeod was the first federal Liberal Party president in twenty years not to either be a Senator or to be offered a seat in the upper house during his presidency.
He was challenged for the party presidency in 1982 by former cabinet minister Iona Campagnolo who defeated him in his bid for re-election. One source of weakness for MacLeod was the Quebec delegation who were unimpressed by his having sent a party fundraising letter to Quebec members in English only. MacLeod was also criticized for the party's poor financial state despite being in government.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alasdair Graham |
President of the Liberal Party of Canada 1980–1982 |
Succeeded by Iona Campagnolo |

