W. A. C. Bennett ministry

W.A.C. Bennett ministry
W.A.C. Bennett ministry
; 25th ministry of British Columbia
Date formed	August 1, 1952
Date dissolved	September 15, 1972
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Clarence Wallace (1952–1955); Frank Mackenzie Ross (1955–1960); George Pearkes (1960–1968); John Robert Nicholson (1968–1972);
Premier	W. A. C. Bennett
Member party	Social Credit
Status in legislature	Minority (1952–1953); Majority (1953–1972);
Opposition party	Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (1952–1961); New Democratic Party (1961–1972);
Opposition leader	Harold Winch (1952–1953); Arnold Webster (1953–1956); Robert Strachan (1956–1969); Dave Barrett (1970–1972);
History
Elections	1952, 1953, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1969
Outgoing election	1972
Legislature terms	23rd Parliament of British Columbia; 24th Parliament of British Columbia; 25th Parliament of British Columbia; 26th Parliament of British Columbia; 27th Parliament of British Columbia; 28th Parliament of British Columbia; 29th Parliament of British Columbia;
Predecessor	Boss Johnson ministry
Successor	Barrett ministry

The W. A. C. Bennett ministry was the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that governed British Columbia from August 1, 1952, to September 15, 1972. It was led by W. A. C. Bennett, the 25th premier of British Columbia, and consisted of members of the Social Credit Party.

The W. A. C. Bennett ministry was established after the 1952 British Columbia general election when Premier Boss Johnson was defeated in the general election and, following the surprise win of the leaderless Social Credit Party, W. A. C. Bennett was elected as party leader and premier-designate shortly after the general election. The cabinet governed through the 29th Parliament of British Columbia, until the Social Credit Party was defeated in the 1972 British Columbia general election.^[1] It was succeeded by the Barrett ministry.^[2] This ministry is also the cabinet with the longest duration of governance in the province's history.

List of ministers

W.A.C Bennett ministry by portfolio
Portfolio	Minister	Tenure
Portfolio	Minister	Start	End
Premier of British Columbia	W.A.C. Bennett	August 1, 1952	September 15, 1972
Minister of Agriculture	William Kiernan	August 1, 1952	September 27, 1956
	Ralph Chetwynd	September 27, 1956	April 3, 1957
	Vacant	April 3, 1957	April 10, 1957
	Lyle Wicks	April 10, 1957	April 15, 1957
	W.A.C. Bennett	April 15, 1957	September 13, 1957
	Newton Steacy	September 13, 1957	November 28, 1960
	Frank Richter	November 28, 1960	May 27, 1968
	Cyril Shelford	May 27, 1968	September 15, 1972
Attorney General	Robert Bonner	August 1, 1952	May 27, 1968
Attorney General	Leslie Peterson	May 27, 1968	September 15, 1972
Minister of Conmmercial Transport^[a]	Ralph Chetwynd	August 1, 1952	September 27, 1956
	Lyle Wicks	September 27, 1956	November 28, 1960
	Earle Westwood	November 28, 1960	December 4, 1963
	William Kiernan	December 4, 1963	March 20, 1964
	Robert Bonner	March 20, 1964	May 27, 1968
	Frank Richter	May 27, 1968	September 15, 1972
Minister of Education	Tilly Rolston	August 1, 1952	October 12, 1953
	Vacant	October 12, 1953	October 19, 1953
	Robert Bonner	October 19, 1953	April 14, 1954
	Ray Williston	April 14, 1954	September 27, 1956
	Leslie Peterson	September 27, 1956	May 27, 1968
	Donald Brothers	May 27, 1968	September 15, 1972
Minister of Finance	Einar Gunderson	August 1, 1952	February 15, 1954
Minister of Finance	W.A.C. Bennett	February 15, 1954	September 15, 1972
Minister of Health Services and Hospital Insurance^[b]	Eric Martin	August 1, 1952	December 12, 1966
	Wesley Black	December 12, 1966	May 24, 1968
	Ralph Loffmark	May 24, 1968	September 15, 1972
Minister of Highways	Phil Gaglardi	March 15, 1955	March 21, 1968
	W.A.C. Bennett	March 21, 1968	April 25, 1968
	Wesley Black	April 25, 1968	September 15, 1972
Minister of Industrial Development, Trade and Commerce^[c]	Ralph Chetwynd	August 1, 1952	September 27, 1956
	Earle Westwood	September 27, 1956	March 28, 1957
	Robert Bonner	March 28, 1957	March 20, 1964
	Ralph Loffmark	March 20, 1964	April 25, 1968
	Waldo Skillings	April 25, 1968	September 15, 1972
Minister of Labour	Lyle Wicks	August 1, 1952	November 28, 1960
	Leslie Peterson	November 28, 1960	April 2, 1971
	James Chabot	April 2, 1971	September 15, 1972
Minister of Lands, Forests, Water Resources^[d]	Robert Sommers	August 1, 1952	February 28, 1956
Minister of Lands, Forests, Water Resources^[d]	Ray Gillis Williston	February 28, 1956	September 15, 1972
Minister of Municipal Affairs	Wesley Black	August 1, 1952	March 20, 1964
Minister of Municipal Affairs	Daniel Campbell	March 20, 1964	September 15, 1972
Provincial Secretary	Wesley Black	August 1, 1952	September 15, 1972
Minister of Public Works	Phil Gaglardi	August 1, 1952	March 15, 1955
Minister of Public Works	William Chant	March 15, 1955	September 15, 1972
Minister of Recreation and Conservation^[e]	Ralph Chetwynd	August 1, 1952	March 28, 1957
	Earle Westwood	March 28, 1957	December 4, 1963
	William Kiernan	December 4, 1963	September 15, 1972
Minister of Rehabilitation and Social Improvement^[f]	Wesley Black	August 1, 1952	December 12, 1966
	Daniel Robert John Campbell	December 12, 1966	October 27, 1969
	Phil Gaglardi	October 27, 1969	September 15, 1972
Minister of Travel Industry	William Kiernan	March 23, 1967	September 15, 1972
Minister without Portfolio	Buda Brown	November 28, 1960	August 12, 1962
	Isabel Dawson	December 12, 1966	September 15, 1972
	Patricia Jordan
	Grace McCarthy
	Phil Gaglardi	March 21, 1968	October 27, 1969

References

^ "W.A.C. Barrett | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
^ "David Barrett | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved January 30, 2023.

^ "Railways" from August 1, 1952 to March 20, 1959
^ "Health and Welfare" from August 1, 1952 to March 20, 1959
^ "Trade and Industry" from August 1, 1952 to March 28, 1957
^ "Lands and Forest" from August 1, 1952 to March 30, 1962
^ "Fisheries" from August 1, 1952 to March 28, 1957
^ "Social Welfare" from March 20, 1959 to April 1, 1970

Sources

"British Columbia Executive Council Appointments (1871-1986)" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. Retrieved January 30, 2023.

[1] "W.A.C. Barrett | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved January 30, 2023.

[2] "David Barrett | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved January 30, 2023.

[3] "Railways" from August 1, 1952 to March 20, 1959

[4] "Health and Welfare" from August 1, 1952 to March 20, 1959

[5] "Trade and Industry" from August 1, 1952 to March 28, 1957

[6] "Lands and Forest" from August 1, 1952 to March 30, 1962

[7] "Fisheries" from August 1, 1952 to March 28, 1957

[8] "Social Welfare" from March 20, 1959 to April 1, 1970

[1]

[2]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[e]

[f]

v t e British Columbia Social Credit Party
Members General election results Leadership elections
Leaders	Ernest George Hansell W. A. C. Bennett Bill Bennett Bill Vander Zalm Rita Johnston Jack Weisgerber (interim) Grace McCarthy Lyall Franklin Hanson (interim) Cliff Serwa (interim) Larry Gillanders Ken Endean (interim) Mike Culos Eric Buckley
Governments	Bennett, W.A.C. Bennett, Bill Vander Zalm Johnston
Miscellaneous	Canadian social credit movement Conservatism in Canada