Harvey Patterson
Encyclopedia
Harvey Norman Murray Patterson (born September 12, 1924) is a retired politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He served as a New Democratic
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1973 to 1975. His term in office is usually remembered for the controversial nature of his election.
Patterson was born in Roland
, Manitoba
and educated at University of Manitoba
, and served overseas with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
in World War II
. In 1961, he was a delegate to the founding convention of the New Democratic Party
in Ottawa, Ontario.
He was actively involved in Winnipeg's labour movement, serving as President of the Winnipeg Labour Council
in the early 1970s (at a time when the WLC was losing members to the Manitoba Federation of Labour
). He was also the chairman for the province's 1970 Panel on Labour Relations and its 1971 Panel on Human Rights and Consumer Affairs.
In the provincial election of 1973
, Patterson ran for the NDP in the Winnipeg riding of Crescentwood against Progressive Conservative
Lawrie Pollard and Liberal
June Menzies. Patterson won on election night, but a judicial recount invalidated 150 ballots and handed the victory to Pollard. The recount was appealed and a revised count was a tie. The returning officer
broke the tie in Patterson's favour.
After an investigation into the ballot-counting process, Patterson's election was declared void on February 20, 1975. He ran again in the succeeding by-election
, but finished third against Progressive Conservative Warren Steen
and Liberal leader Charles Huband
. He did not seek a return to public office after this time.
In 1978, Patterson became Executive Secretary of the Winnipeg Labour Council. He retired in the mid-1980s.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a New Democratic
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1973 to 1975. His term in office is usually remembered for the controversial nature of his election.
Patterson was born in Roland
Roland, Manitoba
Roland is a village of about 300 people in the Pembina Valley Region of Manitoba, Canada, located in the Rural Municipality of Roland, about 16 km north of Winkler. International children's musicians, LuLu and the TomCat, make their home in Roland. Roland is the birth place of the Canadian 4-H...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and educated at University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, and served overseas with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1793. In 1961 it was merged with the Seaforth Highlanders to form the Queen's Own Highlanders...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1961, he was a delegate to the founding convention of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
in Ottawa, Ontario.
He was actively involved in Winnipeg's labour movement, serving as President of the Winnipeg Labour Council
Winnipeg Labour Council
The Winnipeg Labour Council is a labour council based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Affiliated to the Canadian Labour Congress, it represents 50,000+ workers in Winnipeg through 27 affiliated labour unions.- List of affiliated unions :...
in the early 1970s (at a time when the WLC was losing members to the Manitoba Federation of Labour
Manitoba Federation of Labour
The Manitoba Federation of Labour is the Manitoba provincial trade union federation of the Canadian Labour Congress.It was formed in 1956 and has a membership of 90,000 people working in various private sector and public sector fields such as Manufacturing, Government, Retail, Hospitals, Schools,...
). He was also the chairman for the province's 1970 Panel on Labour Relations and its 1971 Panel on Human Rights and Consumer Affairs.
In the provincial election of 1973
Manitoba general election, 1973
The Manitoba General Election of June 28, 1973 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the social-democratic New Democratic Party, which took 31 of 57 seats...
, Patterson ran for the NDP in the Winnipeg riding of Crescentwood against Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
Lawrie Pollard and Liberal
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
June Menzies. Patterson won on election night, but a judicial recount invalidated 150 ballots and handed the victory to Pollard. The recount was appealed and a revised count was a tie. The returning officer
Returning Officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.-Australia:In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a State Electoral Commission who heads the local divisional office...
broke the tie in Patterson's favour.
After an investigation into the ballot-counting process, Patterson's election was declared void on February 20, 1975. He ran again in the succeeding by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, but finished third against Progressive Conservative Warren Steen
Warren Steen
Warren Steen is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1975 to 1986, as a Progressive Conservative.- Biography :...
and Liberal leader Charles Huband
Charles Huband
Charles Huband was a Manitoba politician, who subsequently became a judge. He was the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party between 1975 and 1978....
. He did not seek a return to public office after this time.
In 1978, Patterson became Executive Secretary of the Winnipeg Labour Council. He retired in the mid-1980s.