Former York University president H. Ian Macdonald (right), was honoured by the Ontario government yesterday with the establishment of the H. Ian Macdonald Visiting Economist post within the Ministry of Finance.
“We are absolutely delighted that President emeritus Macdonald received this most appropriate honour from the Ontario government,” said Lorna R. Marsden, York's president and vice-chancellor. “His contributions to York University, to the world of higher education in general and to the economic dynamism of this province cannot be overstated.”
In 1974, Macdonald left the provincial government, where he had last served as deputy treasurer and deputy minister of economics and intergovernmental affairs, to become president and vice-chancellor of York, serving until 1984. He now directs the public administration program at York’s Schulich School of Business. He is currently out of the country teaching a course at the University of Botswana.
In making the announcement, Finance Minister Greg Sorbara stated, “H. Ian Macdonald has left an enduring mark on Ontario as an economist, a deputy minister and as president of York University.” The government credits Macdonald with modernizing the finance ministry by adding economic analysis and forecasting as well as tax policy analysis to its responsibilities.
Sorbara announced that Tim O'Neill, former executive vice-president and chief economist of the Bank of Montreal, would be appointed to the post effective June 1.