Richard Potter (Canadian politician)
| Richard Thomas Potter | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
|
In office 1967–1975 |
|
| Preceded by | New riding |
| Succeeded by | Hugh O'Neil |
| Constituency | Quinte |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 20, 1915 Belleville, Ontario |
| Died | February 16, 2009 (aged 94) Oakville, Ontario |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Enid Grace Weaver |
| Children | 4 children, Thomas, Frances, Andrew, Karen |
| Profession | Doctor |
| Portfolio | Minister without portfolio, 1971-1972 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Canadian |
| Service/branch | Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps |
| Years of service | 1939-1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
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.
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.
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.
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. He was re-elected in 1971. In 1971, when Bill Davis became Premier, he appointed Potter to cabinet as a Minister without portfolio. A year later he was promoted to Minister of Health. In 1974 he was shuffled to Minister of Correctional Services.
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