Richard Potter (Canadian politician)

Richard Thomas Potter (January 20, 1915 – February 16, 2009) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1967 to 1975 who represented the eastern Ontario riding of Quinte. He served as a cabinet minister in the government of Bill Davis.

Richard Thomas Potter
Ontario MPP
In office
1967–1975
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byHugh O'Neil
ConstituencyQuinte
Personal details
Born(1915-01-20)January 20, 1915
Belleville, Ontario
DiedFebruary 16, 2009(2009-02-16) (aged 94)
Oakville, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Spouse(s)Enid Grace Weaver
Children4 children, Thomas, Frances, Andrew, Karen
ProfessionDoctor
PortfolioMinister without portfolio, 1971-1972
Military service
AllegianceCanadian
Branch/serviceRoyal Canadian Army Medical Corps
Years of service1939-1945
RankLieutenant Colonel

Background

He was educated locally and attended Queen's University from which institution he graduated as a Physician in 1939. He immediately enlisted as a military medic in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and used his experience and expertise as a doctor to treat soldiers who were injured as a result of battles they fought in Europe. He served in an advance mobile unit to care for the injured of war; at the time of discharge he held the rank of lieutenant colonel. Potter returned to Belleville following his military service and worked as a family doctor and anesthetist. He married Enid Grace Weaver and together they raised four children.[1]

Politics

In 1950 he entered municipal politics when he was elected as Alderman in Belleville and ran for Mayor and was elected to that office in 1951, running on a campaign promise to establish a municipal health unit and expand community facilities.[1]

In the 1967 provincial election, Potter ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Quinte. He defeated Ronald Joss of the Liberal party by 4,092 votes.[2] He was re-elected in 1971.[3] In 1971, when Bill Davis became Premier, he appointed Potter to cabinet as a Minister without portfolio.[4] A year later he was promoted to Minister of Health.[5] In 1974 he was shuffled to Minister of Correctional Services.[6]

Cabinet positions
Ontario provincial government of Bill Davis
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Syl Apps Minister of Correctional Services
1974-1975		 John Smith
Bert Lawrence Minister of Health
1972-1974		 Frank Miller

Later life

He decided to retire from politics at the age of 60 in 1975 having brought some badly needed changes in the health and welfare departments. In 1976 he was appointed as regional coroner which required him to close his private medical practice and serve as a full-time public servant.[7] He died in Oakville, Ontario after he and his wife moved to a nursing home to be closer to their grandchildren.[1]

References
  1. Ellsworth, Barry (February 21, 2009). "Former city mayor dies". Belleville Intelligencer.
  2. Canadian Press (October 18, 1967). "Tories win, but..." The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. B2.
  3. "Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election". The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p. 10.
  4. Manthorpe, Jonathan; Slinger, John (March 2, 1971). "Changes in policies promised: Davis priorities to include environment and jobless". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
  5. "The Cabinet for Ontario". The Globe and Mail. February 3, 1972. p. 4.
  6. Dunlop, Marilyn (February 27, 1974). "The new cabinet lines up like this". The Toronto Star. p. A3.
  7. "Second term: Potter is appointed Belleville coroner". The Globe and Mail. September 8, 1976. p. 4.
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