Bill Bennett, former B.C. premier, dead at 83
Former B.C. premier Bill Bennett died Thursday night in Kelowna, B.C., at age 83, his brother Russell has told CBC News.
Bennett had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for several years.
Bennett succeeded his father, former premier W.A.C. Bennett as leader of the B.C. Social Credit Party in 1973 and was elected premier in 1975, defeating then New Democratic leader Dave Barrett.
His victory — and two re-elections — returned the conservative Social Credit Party to an era of political domination in the province that would last until the NDP was returned to power in 1991.
"Premier Bennett did more than anyone to build and modernize our province," said B.C. Premier Christy Clark on Twitter. "He will be remembered as one of our greatest leaders."
His family spoke publicly about Bennett's battle with Alzheimer's in 2014, when a longtime friend pledged $9.1 million for research on the disease in the former premier's name.
'Ushered in modern era'
Bennett was honoured as a visionary and a builder in 2007 when he received the Order of British Columbia.
He was noted as the leader who brought Expo 86, the SkyTrain, the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre and the Coquihalla Highway to B.C.
At the time, former premier Gordon Campbell praised Bennett as the man who "ushered us into the modern era."
When elected, Bennett had vowed to "get B.C.'s economy moving again," but he also zeroed in on the pocketbooks of virtually every British Columbian with measures such as a 40 per cent increase in provincial sales tax, a 140 per cent increase in premiums under the government's Autoplan insurance program and a 100 per cent increase in B.C. ferry fares.
In the early 1980s, Bennett gained a reputation as being hard-nosed after cutting thousands of jobs from B.C.'s public service despite massive protests from labour.
'He commanded tremendous loyalty'
Bennett's former cabinet colleagues remember him as a tough political fighter — but also funnier than the public may have known.
"A lot of people don't know this about him, because he had that dour look about him … but he was a very, very witty man," said Rafe Mair, who held the health and education portfolios in Bennett's cabinet, before becoming a well-known radio personality.
"We all would have crawled a mile on our hands and knees over broken glass for the guy. He commanded tremendous loyalty."
Former premier Bill Vander Zalm, who also served in Bennett's cabinet and succeeded him as premier, remembers Bennett as an understanding and sympathetic leader.
"He was a very, very hard worker. Totally committed to the province and its well-being and its progress. And he did a super good job."
Retired undefeated
Bennett retired undefeated from politics in 1986, a year that saw British Columbia host the World Exposition, a key turning point for the province's international reputation.
But Bennett's post-political career was by no means uncontroversial. In 1996, the B.C. Securities Commission found Bennett and his brother Russell, known as R.J., guilty of insider trading in relation to a U.S. lumber company's unsuccessful attempt to take over Doman Industries.
The commission found that the Bennetts sold shares of the company in 1988 using information provided by Doman Industries president Herb Doman. In 1999, the securities commission ordered the Bennett brothers and Doman to pay the commission $1 million to cover the costs of the case.
Bennett is survived by his wife of 60 years, Audrey, his brother Russell, four sons, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
source: Bill Bennett, former B.C. premier, dead at 83 - British Columbia - CBC News
Former B.C. premier Bill Bennett died Thursday night in Kelowna, B.C., at age 83, his brother Russell has told CBC News.
Bennett had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for several years.
Bennett succeeded his father, former premier W.A.C. Bennett as leader of the B.C. Social Credit Party in 1973 and was elected premier in 1975, defeating then New Democratic leader Dave Barrett.
His victory — and two re-elections — returned the conservative Social Credit Party to an era of political domination in the province that would last until the NDP was returned to power in 1991.
"Premier Bennett did more than anyone to build and modernize our province," said B.C. Premier Christy Clark on Twitter. "He will be remembered as one of our greatest leaders."
His family spoke publicly about Bennett's battle with Alzheimer's in 2014, when a longtime friend pledged $9.1 million for research on the disease in the former premier's name.
'Ushered in modern era'
Bennett was honoured as a visionary and a builder in 2007 when he received the Order of British Columbia.
He was noted as the leader who brought Expo 86, the SkyTrain, the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre and the Coquihalla Highway to B.C.
At the time, former premier Gordon Campbell praised Bennett as the man who "ushered us into the modern era."
When elected, Bennett had vowed to "get B.C.'s economy moving again," but he also zeroed in on the pocketbooks of virtually every British Columbian with measures such as a 40 per cent increase in provincial sales tax, a 140 per cent increase in premiums under the government's Autoplan insurance program and a 100 per cent increase in B.C. ferry fares.
In the early 1980s, Bennett gained a reputation as being hard-nosed after cutting thousands of jobs from B.C.'s public service despite massive protests from labour.
'He commanded tremendous loyalty'
Bennett's former cabinet colleagues remember him as a tough political fighter — but also funnier than the public may have known.
"A lot of people don't know this about him, because he had that dour look about him … but he was a very, very witty man," said Rafe Mair, who held the health and education portfolios in Bennett's cabinet, before becoming a well-known radio personality.
"We all would have crawled a mile on our hands and knees over broken glass for the guy. He commanded tremendous loyalty."
Former premier Bill Vander Zalm, who also served in Bennett's cabinet and succeeded him as premier, remembers Bennett as an understanding and sympathetic leader.
"He was a very, very hard worker. Totally committed to the province and its well-being and its progress. And he did a super good job."
Retired undefeated
Bennett retired undefeated from politics in 1986, a year that saw British Columbia host the World Exposition, a key turning point for the province's international reputation.
But Bennett's post-political career was by no means uncontroversial. In 1996, the B.C. Securities Commission found Bennett and his brother Russell, known as R.J., guilty of insider trading in relation to a U.S. lumber company's unsuccessful attempt to take over Doman Industries.
The commission found that the Bennetts sold shares of the company in 1988 using information provided by Doman Industries president Herb Doman. In 1999, the securities commission ordered the Bennett brothers and Doman to pay the commission $1 million to cover the costs of the case.
Bennett is survived by his wife of 60 years, Audrey, his brother Russell, four sons, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
source: Bill Bennett, former B.C. premier, dead at 83 - British Columbia - CBC News
