Wade MacLauchlan
H. Wade MacLauchlan CM OPEI, (born 1954)[1] is a Canadian academic and politician. He is the leader-designate of the ruling Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island and is expected to be appointed Premier of Prince Edward Island shortly after he officially becomes party leader on February 21, 2015.[2][3]
He is from a wealthy island family; his father founded a construction company.[1]
MacLauchlan was president of the University of Prince Edward Island from 1999 to 2011. During his tenure, he helped the university raise millions of dollars for research and development and oversaw a doubling of enrollment to 4,500 students.[1] He was previously dean of the law school of the University of New Brunswick[1] and a law professor at Dalhousie University.[4]
MacLauchlan has been criticized for a 2006 action when as president of the University of PEI he banned from campus an edition of the student newspaper, The Cadre, which reprintedcontroversial Danish cartoons of Muhammad. In a statement, MacLauchlan said that the newspaper's edition, which had re-published political cartoons depicting a prophet of Islam, was "a reckless invitation to disorder."[5] The Canadian Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship issued a statement describing MacLauchlan's actions as "contrary to the duty of all university presidents to maintain their campuses as places where debate of controversial issues may take place."[5]
Since retiring from the university, MacLauchlan has chaired the Palmer Conference on Public Sector Leadership in 2012: Canada as a Leader in Immigration Policy and Practice, and co-chaired the 2013 Georgetown Conference: Redefining Rural.[6] He also wrote Alex B. Campbell: The Prince Edward Island Premier Who Rocked the Cradle, a biography of Alex Campbell.[7]
On November 28, 2014, MacLauchlan announced his candidacy for the leadership of the ruling Prince Edward Island Liberal Party.[6] He was the sole candidate at the close of nominations of January 20, 2015.[3]
MacLauchlan is openly gay;[1] his partner is Duncan McIntosh, founding artistic director of the Watermark Theatre.[8]
MacLauchlan was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2008, of the Order of Prince Edward Island in 2014, and in 2010 receiving the IPAC Award for Excellence in Public Service.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e "PEI Liberals rally behind outsider Wade MacLauchlan to lead party". Globe and Mail. December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
- ^ "Wade MacLauchlan leader-designate of P.E.I. Liberal Party". CBC News. January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ a b "Ex-president of UPEI set to become next premier". Globe and Mail. January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "Wade MacLauchlan". Trudeaufoundation.ca. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Censorship on the Island : What follows is an open letter, dated Feb. 13, from the Canadian Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship to Dr. Wade MacLauchlan, president of the University of Prince Edward Island". Canada.com. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 28 (help) - ^ a b "Wade MacLauchlan announces P.E.I. Liberal leadership bid". Cbc.ca. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ "About the Author: Wade MacLauchlan". Alexbcampbell.ca. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ "About Wade". Wadepei.ca. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ "2014 Recipients". Gov.pe.ca. Retrieved 4 January 2015.