William Petten

Who was William Petten?

William John Petten was a Canadian politician.

Born in St John's, Newfoundland, he was the son of Ray Petten, chief fundraiser of Joey Smallwood's Newfoundland Confederate Association and subsequently a member of the Canadian Senate.

William Pennett was a customs broker for fish exporters before being appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1968. A Liberal, he represented the senatorial division of Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador. He retired on his 75th birthday in 1998. He twice was the Government Whip in the Senate and twice the Opposition Whip in the Senate.

In 2000, the Petten Building, the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial fisheries and aquaculture building in St. John’s, was named after the late William J. Petten.