(13 Sept. 1915-22 March 1983), auditor general of Canada. (James J. Macdonell, J. J. Macdonell, Jim Macdonell) Born in Calgary, Alta. Parents: Archibald Joseph Macdonell and his wife Lillian Johnson, both from GC (resp., from Glen Nevis and Glen Robertson). James Johnson attended school for six years up to 1930 at the well-known Maryvale Abbey, founded by Fr Donald Ranald Macdonald at Glen Nevis, GC. In 1930 he was articled as a chartered accountancy student to the firm P. S. Ross & Sons, of Montreal. He qualified as a CA (chartered accountant) in Quebec Province in 1937 and in Ontario in 1951. He worked for Canadian Industries Ltd of Montreal, 1937-1945, then in 1945 he joined Price Waterhouse & Co., rising in that firm to the rank of senior partner. Specifically, he is described as being a “management consultant” before he became auditor general of Canada.
He was auditor general of Canada from 1973 to 1980. In this office, one of the best known public positions in Canada, he proved, despite a few early indications that he was not of a confrontational character, a stern critic of government financial mismanagement. He is especially remembered for his warning in 1976 that the Government of Canada “has lost or is close to losing effective control of the public purse.” (Globe & Mail 23 Nov. 1976, headline story front page) Two years after he left office, he published a lengthy article in the Globe & Mail (13 July 1982) in which he reviewed various reforms which, largely in response to his criticisms, had recently been established in government financing, and cautiously suggested that “the long march back to government accountability and economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the expenditure of public funds has begun.” He was instrumental in bringing about the Auditor General Act (1977) and the establishment of the Office of the Comptroller General of Canada. On retiring as auditor general, he became chairman of the Canadian Comprehensive Auditing Foundation, which he had been involved in founding. The recent literature on him emphazises that although he began softly as auditor general, he had a huge impact ultimately, but it hints also at reservations about whether the changes he effected were wholly good.
He and the Léger brothers were, nationally, the best known Glengarrians of the second half of the 20th century, Macdonell’s activities and statements as auditor general being intently reported on and discussed in the press. At home, a Glengarry News editorial writer (presumably Eugene Macdonald) thought that “Auditor-General James J. Macdonell has done his Glengarry forebears proud with his biting indictment of uncontrolled spending by the Ottawa government.” (Glengarry News 2 Dec. 1976) Auditor General Macdonell opened the 32nd annual Glengarry Highland Games at Maxville in 1979. His honours included an honorary Doctorate of Laws from McGill University, Nov. 1982.
He died at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, having been taken suddenly ill the same day. His funeral mass was at St. Patrick’s Church, Ottawa. The burial was at Glen Nevis, GC. He was married on 15 May 1941 to Audrey Mary Grafton (1913-1985). (one child)
He was the second Glengarrian to be auditor general, the first being John Fraser. Also, R. W. Sellar, auditor general, was the nephew or other close relative of Robert Sellar, who had important GC connections.
Globe & Mail 23 March 1983 (with editorial, portrait), Glengarry News 23 & 30 March 1983 (with editorial, Angus H. McDonell’s report on funeral) * National Reference Book (Canadian Newspaper Service Ltd) 1959-60 pp. 668-669: biog. dict. entry, with portrait * Canadian Who’s Who 1983 * gravestone at Glen Nevis * appointment: GN 29 March 1973, with biog. outline, portrait, editorial; Vankleek Hill Review 28 March 1973 (his father’s reaction) * Sister Mary Electa, The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul (1961) 91-94 (his recollections of school days at Maryvale Abbey) * Ross, Lancaster, 318, 393-396 * Sonja Sinclair, Cordial but Not Cosy: a History of the Office of the Auditor General (1979) * information kindly supplied by Office of the Auditor General * “The Auditors General of Canada 1878-1992,” Opinions (Office of the Auditor General), 10:3 (1992): appraisals, with portraits of the auditors general * Maryvale student, wins scholarship, GN 19 Sept. 1930 * graduates as chartered accountant, GN 4 June 1937