Richard Patten
| Richard Andrew Patten | |
|---|---|
| MPP | |
| In office 1995–2007 | |
| Preceded by | Evelyn Gigantes |
| Succeeded by | Yasir Naqvi |
| Constituency | Ottawa Centre |
| In office 1987–1990 | |
| Preceded by | Evelyn Gigantes |
| Succeeded by | Evelyn Gigantes |
| Constituency | Ottawa Centre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 May 1942 Montreal, Quebec |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Occupation | YMCA Manager |
| Religion | Unitarian |
Richard Andrew Patten (born 13 May 1942) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. Patten was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Ottawa Centre.
Background
Patten was educated at Sir George Williams University in Montreal. Before entering public life, he was a manager with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), and served as President of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation. Patten sat on an NGO advisory committee to the World Bank while with the CCIC.
Politics
Patten served during the 34th, 36th, 37th and 38th Legislative Assemblies of Ontario as a member of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Patten was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election, defeating incumbent New Democrat Evelyn Gigantes by just over 2,000 votes in Ottawa Centre. Patten was appointed as cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson, serving as Minister of Government Services and later as Minister of Correctional Services.
In the 1990 provincial election Patten was defeated by his NDP rival Gigantes. For the next five years, Patten served as President and CEO of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation, doing extensive fund-raising work for the organization.
In 1995 provincial election Patten campaigned against Gigantes once again this time defeating her by 1,700 votes. The Progressive Conservatives won the election, and Patten joined 29 other Liberals in the opposition. He attempted to mobilize a campaign for the party's leadership in 1996, but failed in this effort and subsequently supported Dwight Duncan. When Duncan was eliminated after the third ballot, he endorsed Dalton McGuinty, the eventual winner.[1]
In the 1999 provincial election, Patten was re-elected over opponents PC Ray Kostuck and NDP Elisabeth Arnold. The Progressive Conservatives again won the election, and Patten remained in opposition.[2] Patten was treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma during this parliament.[citation needed]
The Liberals won the 2003 election and he was re-elected again by over 10,000 votes.[2][3] During this session he served as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Education, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade and to Premier Dalton McGuinty. Patten maintained a strong interest in the CHEO and devoted legislative efforts towards the centre's operations.[2]
On 14 March 2007, Patten announced he would not seek re-election in the upcoming election, preferring to focus on work with the CHEO Foundation.[3]
References
- ↑ . Ottawa Citizen. 2 December 1996. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Conway-Smith, Erin; Wilson publisher=Centretown News, Candace (10 October 2003). "Patten to pursue pet projects".
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ottawa MPP Patten to retire from politics". CBC News. 14 March 2007.