Jim has an extensive background in the news media, media relations, media training, strategic communications and crisis management.

He served from September, 1999 to September, 2001 as Director of Communications to Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty, signing on to restructure and rebuild the Liberal communications office after the return to power of the Harris government in 1999. Upon his departure from Queen’s Park, the National Post referred to his “proactive style” and wrote, “he leaves the office in better shape than he found it…an aggressive strategist, Mr. Maclean improved the Liberal leader’s communications by turning the media office into an election-style war room.”

Maclean is also an expert in the politics and regulation of health care, having spent seven years as Director of Public Affairs and Communications at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, (CPSO), and two years, (1987-1989) as Communications Advisor to former Ontario Health Minister Elinor Caplan.

The CPSO paid tribute to him in its publication, Members’ Dialogue, saying, “his knowledge of the communications industry, the media, the political players and process, his ability to think clearly as the College faced the inevitable crises inherent to self-regulation served this institution well.”

During his journalism career, Maclean worked in private radio in New Brunswick and at CBC Radio in St. John’s, Newfoundland before returning to Ontario where he held increasingly senior positions, including roles as Bureau Chief at Toronto City Hall, the Ontario Legislature and Parliament Hill and later, News Director at a major Toronto radio station.

He holds a BA in English and Philosophy from Victoria College, University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Journalism from Ottawa’s Carleton University.