Home > William R. Bennett

Born in Kelowna, British Columbia, he was the son of the former Premier, W.A.C. Bennett and following his father's resignation, Bill Bennett was elected on September 7, 1973 as the BC Social Credit Party Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for South Okanagan.

He was voted the leader of the Party in 1973, at a convention in Whistler, British Columbia and Premier of the province in 1975 defeating the NDP. In the election of December 11, 1979Events January-February January 1 Sino-American relations: United States and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations January 4 State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings. the Social Credit Party was re-elected with a majority. He served until August 6August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. Events 1806 Francis I, the last Holy Roman Emperor, abdicates, thus ending the Holy Roman Empire. 1825 Bolivia gains independence from Peru., 19861986 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January January 1 Spain and Portugal enter the European Community January 1 Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands and is separated from the Netherlands Antilles. January 9 After losing a pa.

His cabinetAlternate meanings in cabinet (disambiguation A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers . In some countries, particularly those included a vast array of new politicians who would soon become some of BC's most prominent political players. These included Grace McCarthyGrace McCarthy (born 1928) was a Canadian politician in British Columbia, nicknamed Amazing Grace by members of her party, and a longtime member of the Social Credit Party of B. She was largely responsible for rebuilding the party after its defeat in the, Bill Vander Zalm, Gardie Gardom , and Rafe MairRafe Mair was a Canadian politician who served in the government of British Columbia. Elected as a member of the Social Credit Party in 1975, he served as a cabinet minister in the government of Premier Bill Bennett under a variety of portfolios including.

Inspired by conservative economist Milton FriedmanMilton Friedman (born July 31, 1912) is a U. economist, known primarily for his advocacy of laissez-faire capitalism. In 1976 he was awarded the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. His book Free to Choose coauthored with h, his government slashed social services and gutted labor laws in response to economic woes in 1983, provoking a general strike which further crippled the economy. To justify massive education cuts, Bennett blamed many of the province's difficulties squarely on the shoulders of public school teachers, an odd argument which deeply split the electorate.

On the other hand, his ostensibly anti- socialist government spent hundreds of millions to bring the 1986 World Exposition to Vancouver, distributed free shares to British Columbians for British Columbia Resources Investment Corporation (a holding company which ultimately flopped), and spent hundreds of millions constructing the Coquihalla Highway with the controversial, non-union Kerkhoff Construction Company as the main contractor. His government also spent over $1 billion on the Northeast coal project in its hopes to create jobs; yet critics noted that, by creating only 1,000 jobs, each one cost taxpayers $1 million. The coal project ultimately failed.

In 1976 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

He is currently retired and improving his golf handicap, dividing his time between his hometown of Kelowna and Palm Springs.

He is generally highly respected among members of his own party.