Pat Atkinson is a Canadian provincial politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

. She was a Saskatchewan New Democratic Party

Saskatchewan New Democratic Party

The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It currently forms the official opposition, but has been a dominant force in Saskatchewan politics since the 1940s...

 member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...

 from 1986 to 2011, and is currently the longest-serving female MLA in Saskatchewan's history.

Atkinson was first elected in 1986, while the NDP was still in opposition. When the party was elected to government in the 1991 provincial election, she held a number of major cabinet positions, including minister of social services, health, education, Crown corporations, and finance. She was a supporter of Lorne Calvert

Lorne Calvert

Lorne Albert Calvert, MLA was the 13th Premier of Saskatchewan, from 2001 to 2007. Calvert, was the leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party from 2001 to June 6, 2009, when he was succeeded by Dwain Lingenfelter.In 1975, Calvert married Betty Sluzalo of Perdue, Saskatchewan. After attending...

and helped him win the party leadership in 2001. After the NDP was defeated in the 2007 election, she served as deputy leader of the opposition. Atkinson announced her retirement on January 11, 2011.