We have a great anniversary to mark today, particularly for all my friends in British Columbia. It was, of course, on this date in 1952 – exactly 70 years-ago – that legendary B.C. Premier W.A.C. “Wacky” Bennett was sworn-in as Premier. He would then go on to serve a commanding 20 years as Premier, a record of longevity that still stands in his province. And, of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention that Premier Bennett was a relative of the great R.B. Bennett, Canada’s 11th PM.Under Premier “Wacky” Bennett’s leadership, he and his SoCreds would earn seven mandates from BC voters, an impressive record if there ever was one. In countless ways, Bennett’s Premiership helped define and shape modern B.C. right through the present-day. While a fiscal conservative, he also showed no hesitation in harnessing the powers of the state to nationalize things like BC Ferries and more.[caption id="attachment_629823" align="alignnone" width="740"]
Premier W.A.C. “Wacky” Bennett[/caption]Bennett was defeated by the NDP in the 1972 election and was succeeded by his son, Bill, as Social Credit leader and later Premier. While always a controversial figure, even his opponents would not disagree with the words inscribed on his tombstone that read: “He dedicated his life to the people of British Columbia.”Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Premier W.A.C. “Wacky” Bennett[/caption]Bennett was defeated by the NDP in the 1972 election and was succeeded by his son, Bill, as Social Credit leader and later Premier. While always a controversial figure, even his opponents would not disagree with the words inscribed on his tombstone that read: “He dedicated his life to the people of British Columbia.”Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.