Decision '08: Liberal Party candidate Penny Collenette

Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.

Education: B.A. in law and political science from Carleton University, L.L.B. from the University of Ottawa and a Senior Fellow at John F. Kennedy School of Government, at Harvard University.

Life outside politics: Collenette was vice-president of George Weston Ltd., one of Canada’s leading corporations. She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa. She volunteers for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa, an agency that supports people living with disabilities. 

Life in politics: Collenette has been a volunteer and political organizer for the Liberal Party of Canada since the age of 19. She served for four years as a senior director in the Prime Minister’s Office. She was the national director of Jean Chrétien’s second leadership bid in 1990 and Director of Legal Studies for the Liberal Party during the 1993 federal election. She was elected as the Liberal candidate of Ottawa centre in April 2007.

Major campaign issues:  Collenette wants to implement a strong water policy. She plans to invest more money in making the inner city core more alive and vibrant. She plans to improve safety, transit and green space. Her international interests concern advancing human rights and promoting equality for women.

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