Home > Richard Patten

Patten was educated at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University) in Montreal. Before entering public life, he was a prominent management figure in the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), and served as President of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation . He frequently worked with domestic and foreign government, and sat on an NGO advisory committee to the World Bank while with the CCIC.

Patten was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election, defeating incumbent New Democrat Evelyn Gigantes by just over 2000 votes in Ottawa Centre. He was appointed a cabinet ministerAlternate meanings in cabinet (disambiguation A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers . In some countries, particularly those in the government of David PetersonDavid Peterson was the twentieth Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990, and the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years. He was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1943, and earned degrees from the University of Western Ontario (B. and the, serving as Ontario Minister of Government Services from September 29September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). There are 93 days remaining. Events 61 BC Pompey the Great celebrates his third triumph, for victories over the pirates and the end of the Mithridatic Wars. 855 Pope Benedict III becomes Pop, 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train to August 2August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. Events 338 BC Rise of Macedon: Philip of Macedon crushes Athens and Thebes in the Battle of Chaeronea. 216 BC Punic Wars: In the Battle of Cann, 19891989 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 7 Akihito becomes Emperor of Japan following the death of Hirohito. The Heisei period begins January 8 the Kegworth Air Disaster A British Midland Boeing 737 cra, and as Ontario Minister of Correctional Services from August 2August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. Events 338 BC Rise of Macedon: Philip of Macedon crushes Athens and Thebes in the Battle of Chaeronea. 216 BC Punic Wars: In the Battle of Cann, 19891989 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 7 Akihito becomes Emperor of Japan following the death of Hirohito. The Heisei period begins January 8 the Kegworth Air Disaster A British Midland Boeing 737 cra to October 1October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in Leap years). There are 91 days remaining. Events 331 BC Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Arbela 959 Edgar the Peaceable becomes king of all England 965 John XIII becomes Pop, 1990.

Gigantes defeated Patten during the snap 1990 provincial election, in which the New Democrats scored an upset victory over the Liberals. For the next five years, Patten served as President and CEO of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation, doing extensive fundraising work for the organization.

Support for the Ontario NDP declined considerably between 1990 and 1995, and Patten was able to defeat Gigantes again in the 1995 provincial election (this time by about 1700 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; his efforts may have only served to alienate supporters of Dalton McGuinty in neighbouring Ottawa South, who eventually won the leadership contest.

In the 1999 provincial election, Patten was elected over his Progressive Conservative opponent Ray Kostuck by about 2000 votes; New Democrat Elisabeth Arnold , who was expected to be his primary opposition, finished third. The Progressive Conservatives again won the election, and Patten remained in opposition. Patten was treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma during this parliament, and did not play a major role in the legislature.

The Liberals won the 2003 election and Patten was re-elected in Ottawa Centre by over 10,000 votes, the easiest victory of his career. He was not appointed to the cabinet of Dalton McGuinty, but was instead named parliamentary assistant to Gerard Kennedy, the Ontario Minister of Education on October 23, 2003. On September 27, 2004, he was named parliamentary assistant to Joseph Cordiano, the Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade . Considering that Ottawa is already over-represented in cabinet relative to its population, it seems unlikely that Patten will return to cabinet in the near future.