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Flora MacDonald, former PC cabinet minister, dies

Nova Scotia native Flora MacDonald died this weekend. The longtime politician became Canada's 1st female secretary of state for foreign affairs in 1979 and was a recipient of the Order of Canada. She was 89. Listen to her interview from November, 1988, after she lost her bid for re-election.
CBC Radio ·
Flora MacDonald is promoted as a companion in the Order of Canada by Governor General Romeo LeBlanc in Ottawa Wednesday April 14, 1999. Flora MacDonald died this weekend. She was 89. (The Canadian Press/Tom Hanson)
Flora MacDonald in 2008 visiting Afghanistan, where she took part in humanitarian work aimed at helping rebuild the war-torn nation. (CBC)

Canadians of a certain vintage will remember her as a onetime household name: Flora MacDonald -- who spent 16 years as a prominent Conservative politician. Flora MacDonald passed away this weekend at age 89.

Ms. MacDonald served as the Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands from 1972 to 1988.

In 1976, she was the first woman to launch a major bid to lead the Progressive Conservatives ... although the job ended up going to Joe Clark. And in 1979, Ms. MacDonald became the first female secretary of state for foreign affairs in Canadian history. 

Flora MacDonald was often asked what it was like being a female politician in a male-dominated world ... including in this interview with CBC TV in November, 1988 ... after she lost her bid for re-election.
 

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