Pat Mella

Patricia Janet Mella (born 1943) is a Canadian politician and former teacher. Mella was Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party (PC) party leader from 1990 to 1996 and assembly member from 1993 to 2003.

She was born Patricia MacDougall in Port Hill, Prince Edward Island and was educated at Saint Dunstan's University and the University of Prince Edward Island. A teacher and lecturer, she married Angelo Mella while teaching at St. Patrick's College in Ottawa.

Mella entered political life, having been an unsuccessful candidate in the 1989 provincial election as a member of the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party. She served as the Leader of the PC Party from 1990 to 1996 and Leader of the Opposition from 1993 to 1996. She represented 3rd Queens and then Glen Stewart-Bellevue Cove in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1993 to 2003.

Elected with the government of premier Pat Binns in 1996, she served as Provincial Treasurer (Minister of Finance) until 2003.

Mella retired from politics following the September 29, 2003 provincial general election and did not reoffer.

In 2004, Mella was appointed with Douglas MacArthur and Matt Power to chair the Prince Edward Island Conservative Party of Canada federal election campaign.

Mella is a sister of Canadian businessman Don McDougall, who was a founder of the Toronto Blue Jays.