By Emily Yeap
After three terms as Liberal MPP for Ottawa Centre, Richard Patten isn’t done fighting for his constituents.
A recent cancer survivor, Patten says he wants to continue representing the riding and taking people’s concerns to Queen’s Park.
Last year, Patten thought about quitting politics. But anger at provincial government’s policies, such as taking over the Ottawa Hospital and interfering with the public school boards, has convinced Patten to run again.
“It cranked me up, made me angry,” Patten says.
Patten was first elected in 1987.
He served as minister of Government Services and Correctional Services under then premier David Peterson.
After losing the 1990 election, he became president of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation, where he oversaw fundraising.
In 1995, Patten reclaimed Ottawa Centre and held on to his seat in the 1999 election.
If re-elected, Patten says his party has very ambitious plans. One of its top priorities is to strengthen the educational system by firing the government-appointed supervisor of Ottawa’s public school board. The Liberals say they will also ensure smaller classes, build new schools and issue a moratorium on school closures.
Other plans include improving health care, building better homecare services for seniors and strengthening the transit system.
“It’s a lot of work, but we’re looking forward to it,” Patten says.
Born in Montreal, Patten moved to Ottawa in 1979 and has lived here since. He is married to Penny, a junior kindergarten teacher. They have two grown children.
Patten is known for his commitment to community and international development work. Before entering politics, he worked for many years with the Young Men’s Christian Association, both at the local and international levels.
He also served as president of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation in the early 1980s.
Patten says he got into politics to serve his community.
“My mission is to work very hard. I’m not aloof and I won’t ignore people when they ask for help.”