By Andrew Macdonald
Martha MacQuarrie is now one of four staff to Newfoundland Conservative senator, David Wells. She recently moved to the Nation’s Capital, leaving behind her home in the Annapolis Royal.
Wells was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2013 by then-PM Stephen Harper.
Prior to that plum posting, he was deputy CEO of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board.
“Wells has over 30 years experience in international business and management of government and regulatory affairs. Over the years he has specialized in various areas including policy development, financial management and budgeting, human resources management, corporate strategy and regulatory change”, reads his official bio.
MacQuarrie is not taking media questions on her new role, or on why she left employment with her former political boss, PC MLA John Lohr. And she declined to comment on whether she would run a second time in the Annapolis Valley for the federal Tories.
She was the federal Conservative candidate in 2019, losing to Liberal Kody Blois, who replaced Scott Brison.
Martha MacQaurrie was the Tory contender in the federal riding of Kings Hants in 2019. She has just moved to Ottawa to work for a Newfoundland senator.
MacQuarrie, who is believed to have sold her home in Kentville, was raised in Truro where she was a sibling of large pharmacy chain operator Charles MacQuarrie.
“We were raised to help out. Our family always buys local,” MacQuarrie previously told The Macdonald Notebook.
“I am a product of Truro, born and raised by parents Malcolm and Charlotte MacQuarrie. Charles is my older brother. My brothers and I are the third generation in the family (drug store) business,” she adds. Another brother is Rod MacQuarrie.
“We understand the vital role that small businesses plays,” says MacQuarrie, who had volunteered in her adopted community of Kentville.
“My mother and father were very high on volunteering and service. I am following in their footsteps, volunteering with a broad range of community and political experiences.
“My grandfather started MacQuarrie Drug Store, so it is 98 years old now,” she adds. “Charles looks after the family business.”
MacQuarrie does not have equity in the pharmacy chain, which has up to eight stores in Nova Scotia, including in the Valley and Antigonish’s MacKinnon Pharmacy, as well as in Truro.
She moved to the Valley 15 years ago after her oldest son, James, studied in grades 7 to 9 at Landmark East in Wolfville, a school that was established for children with learning difficulties. He later graduated with honours at Kings-Edgehillin Windsor, and is now an electrician, having studied at NCCC after a stint at Bishop’s University.
“I met my husband at the time, and stayed here, and we built a life for ourselves. My husband, Brian Kingsbury passed away seven years ago. He was 52,” says MacQuarrie.
The couple each brought three children into the marriage, and there are now six adult children.
