Ex-premier Bennett dies

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

Former British Columbia premier Bill Bennett, known as an architect of financial restraint in the province, has died in his hometown of Kelowna at the age of 83.

Bennett had been suffering from Alzeimer's disease for several years and died Thursday.

His family said in an obituary that Bennett cherished his time with them and was known for his quick wit and great sense of humour.

"Bill was competitive in all aspects of his life, whether in business, politics or the game he loved most — tennis."

Bennett used that competitive streak to lead the Social Credit party in a December 1975 landslide victory over Dave Barrett's New Democrat Party.

He took over the party from his father W.A.C. Bennett, who stepped down in 1972 after his 20 years in power ended in electoral defeat.

Under Bennett's helm, the Socreds took 34 of 55 seats in the legislature and more than 49 per cent of the popular vote.

The youngest of three children, Bennett weighed slightly more than five pounds at birth, he hadn't been expected to live long. Later there was jaundice, more time in the hospital, and the future premier learned to fight early.

From his father, a determined, single-minded man who built a prosperous hardware business, he acquired an affinity for hard work.

In high school, Bill and his brother Russell — known as R.J. — were already in business on their own.

His family said Bennett and R.J. first managed three Bennett's Hardware Furniture and Appliance stores in the Okanagan for their father, who had entered politics.

"Bill and R.J. continued their partnership, adding to the retail chain of stores, along with many real estate ventures until after Bill entered politics."

In 1955, Bennett married Audrey James, a nurse's aide at Kelowna General Hospital. She continued to work for three years as a receptionist in a local medical clinic until she left to have the first of four sons — Brad, Kevin, Stephen and Greg.

After that came promotion of a $34-million development, a finance company, sawmilling, feed grain and 4,500-hectares bought from the estate of industrialist Austin Taylor.

Bennett stayed out of active politics while his father was premier, explaining that "there was a family agreement that there wasn't room for two or three of us in politics at the same time." But he was involved behind the scenes in some of his father's campaigns.

In a 1972 byelection following his father's retirement from politics, Bennett captured the seat with 39 per cent of the vote.

A month after the byelection, he declared for the Social Credit leadership and won it handily when his most dangerous potential opponent — Phil Gaglardi, a former highways and welfare minister — decided not to run.

After toppling the Barrett administration, the new premier vowed to "get B.C.'s economy moving again" and zeroed in on the pocketbooks of virtually every British Columbian with such measures as a 40 per cent increase in provincial sales tax, 140 per cent increase in premiums under the government's Autoplan insurance program and 100 per cent increase in B.C. ferry fares.

In the early 1980s, he gained a reputation as being hard-nosed after cutting thousands of jobs from B.C.'s public service despite massive protests from labour.

He faced Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and the other premiers in televised talks that would result in the 1982 Constitution that Quebec Premier Rene Levesque refused to sign. 

He resigned in 1986 and returned to private business.

Bennett is survived by his wife of 60 years, his brother Russell, four sons, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.