[LINK] "Flora MacDonald, longtime politician, dead at 89"

[rfmcdonald]

The death Sunday of veteran Canadian politician Flora MacDonald got plenty of attention. She was a prominent politician who established precedents for women in politics.

MacDonald began her career working at Progressive Conservative headquarters from 1956 to 1965, serving as executive secretary for half a decade. After being elected as a Member of Parliament in 1972, she became the party's critic for aboriginal affairs and northern development.

Four years after being first elected on the national scene, she threw her name into the ring of contenders for the party's leadership only to see Joe Clark win the nomination and eventually become prime minister.

Under Clark, MacDonald was named secretary of state for external affairs. She was the first woman to hold this post in Canada and became one of the first few female foreign leaders worldwide at the time.

A few years later in September 1984, she became the minister of employment and immigration under then-prime minister Brian Mulroney. MacDonald later became Mulroney's communications minister in 1986.

In November 1988, MacDonald lost her seat and cabinet position after spending 16 years in the House of Commons, prompting her exit from federal politics. She decided to dedicate her time toward humanitarian efforts but also managed to host a television program, author a book and serve as chair of an international development research centre.