Richard Patten

Richard Patten
Ontario 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
Occupation YMCA Manager
Religion Unitarian

Richard Andrew Patten (born 13 May 1942) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. Patten was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1990 and again from 1995 to 2007. He representing the riding of Ottawa Centre. He served as a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson.

Background

Patten was educated at Sir George Williams University in Montreal. He worked as 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

In the 1987 provincial election, Patten ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Ottawa Centre. He defeated incumbent New Democrat Evelyn Gigantes by just over 2,000 votes.[1] The Liberal party won the election and Patten was appointed as Minister of Government Services.[2] In August 1989 he was shuffled to Minister of Correctional Services.[3]

In the 1990 provincial election Patten was defeated by his NDP rival Gigantes.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] When Duncan was eliminated after the third ballot, he endorsed Dalton McGuinty, the eventual winner.[7]

In the 1999 provincial election, Patten was re-elected over Progressive Conservative Ray Kostuch and New Democrat Elisabeth Arnold.[8] The Progressive Conservatives again won the election, and Patten remained in opposition.[9] Patten was treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma during this parliament.[10]

The Liberals won the 2003 election and he was re-elected again by over 10,000 votes.[9][11][12] 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.[9]

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.[12]

Cabinet positions

Provincial Government of David Peterson
Cabinet Posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
David Ramsay Minister of Correctional Services
1989–1990
Mike Farnan
Sean Conway Minister of Government Services
1987–1989
Chris Ward

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 2003: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalRichard Patten 22,295 45.10 +6.93 $ 72,458.74
New DemocraticJeff Atkinson 11,362 22.98 -2.48 49,598.63
Progressive ConservativeJoe Varner 11,217 22.69 -10.05 17,112.70
GreenChris Bradshaw 3,821 7.73 +5.11 9,283.05
CommunistStuart Ryan 306 0.62 +0.25 878.30
FreedomMatt Szymanowicz 218 0.44   0.00
IndependentFakhry Guirguis 214 0.43   1,094.74
Total valid votes/Expense Limit 49,433 100.0   +5.08 $ 85,928.64
Total rejected ballots 360 0.72 -0.11
Turnout 49,793 55.63 +2.67
Eligible voters 89,509   -0.07
Ontario general election, 1999: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalRichard Patten 17,956 38.17 -1.09 $ 48,983.01
Progressive ConservativeRay Kostuch 15,403 32.74 +9.10 54,104.81
New DemocraticElisabeth Arnold 11,977 25.46 -7.77 58,863.46
GreenChris Bradshaw 1,231 2.62 +1.39 4,119.65
CommunistMarvin Glass 174 0.37 -0.37 1,384.26
Natural LawWayne Foster 170 0.36 -0.93 0.00
IndependentMistahi Corkill 132 0.28   0.00
Total valid votes/Expense Limit 47,043 100.0   +65.64 $ 85,987.20
Total rejected ballots 395 0.83 -0.27
Turnout 47,438 52.96 -10.92
Eligible voters 89,570  +99.23
Ontario general election, 1995: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalRichard Patten 11,150 39.26 +0.98 $ 44,245.00
New DemocraticEvelyn Gigantes 9,438 33.23 -14.47 39,455.24
Progressive ConservativeChris Thompson 6,715 23.64 +14.70 31,048.00
Natural LawRon Parker 365 1.29   0.00
GreenAndrew Van Iterson 349 1.23 -0.66 200.00
CommunistMalek Khouri 210 0.74   1,086.25
IndependentJohn C. Turmel 173 0.61 +0.08 0.00
Total valid votes 28,400 100.0   -6.72  
Total rejected ballots 317 1.10
Turnout 28,717 63.88
Eligible voters 44,958
Ontario general election, 1990: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
New DemocraticEvelyn Gigantes 14,522 47.70 +7.64
LiberalRichard Patten 11,656 38.28 -8.88
Progressive ConservativeAlex Burney 2,723 8.94 -1.8
Family CoalitionJohn Gray 809 2.66  
GreenBill Hipwell 576 1.89  
Independent John Turmel 160 0.53 -1.50
Total valid votes 30,446100.0   +3.54
Ontario general election, 1987: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalRichard Patten 13,867 47.16 +21.20
New DemocraticEvelyn Gigantes 11,780 40.06 -3.39
Progressive ConservativeGreg Vezina 3,159 10.74 -18.51
IndependentJohn Turmel 598 2.03 +0.70
Total valid votes 29,404 100.0   +7.46

References

  1. "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
  2. "Wrye gets new cabinet job". The Windsor Star. September 29, 1987. p. A1.
  3. Allen, Gene (August 3, 1989). "Veterans bear load as 8 ministers cut in Peterson shuffle". The Globe and Mail. p. A1.
  4. "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.
  5. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995.
  6. Crone, Greg (January 31, 1996). "Conway pulls plug on bid for leadership of Liberals". The Windsor Star. p. A2.
  7. Abraham; Brennan, Richard (December 2, 1996). "Surprising McGuinty emerges from chaos first1=Carolyn". The Ottawa Citizen. p. A1.
  8. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 3, 1999.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Conway-Smith, Erin; Wilson publisher=Centretown News, Candace (10 October 2003). "Patten to pursue pet projects".
  10. Boyle, Theresa (June 26, 2001). "MPP with cancer questions long delays for treatment; Tells Legislature of 9-week wait for CAT scan". Toronto Star. p. A06.
  11. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003.
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Ottawa MPP Patten to retire from politics". CBC News. 14 March 2007. Retrieved 2014-05-27.

External links