ROTHENBURGER – The man who wanted to be leader of the province

ONCE UPON A TIME, there was a man who wanted to be our leader. When his party turned him down, he quit, announced he’d sit as an independent, then picked a different party.

No, I’m not talking about Peter Milobar, at least for the moment. I’m talking about W.A.C. Bennett, arguably one of the most accomplished premiers in the history of B.C., and certainly the longest serving. He was premier for 20 years starting in 1952.

I wrote about him quite extensively in my 1991 book, ‘Friend o’ Mine.’ Bennett actually lost two leadership races in the Conservative party before he abandoned it. He considered setting up his own free-enterprise party but, instead, hitched his wagon to the upstart Social Credit party.

Imported from Alberta, it espoused some wacky economic policies that Bennett had no intention of implementing if he became leader.

Shortly after the Conservative-Liberal coalition that had been governing the province fell apart, a provincial election was called in 1952. Social Credit, which campaigned without a leader, scored a shocking victory.

The party had decided to pick its leader from among its elected candidates. Bennett won, defeating, among others, the new MLA from Kamloops, Phil Gaglardi.

William Andrew Cecil Bennett embarked on a mission to transform the economy of the province, building highways (with Gaglardi as his highways minister), dams, railways and resource development.

“I want to make it clear that our government will not be a government of the right or of the left,” Bennett declared after he and his cabinet were sworn into office. “A Social Credit government will be a middle-of-the-road government.”

The similarities between Bennett’s ascendance to B.C.’s top job, and Milobar’s situation, are interesting. Both left the Conservative party after losing leadership campaigns and both proclaimed themselves independents.

While Bennett, rather than starting a brand new party, attached himself to a neophyte party he believed could be a vehicle for his ambitions, Milobar talks of starting a new brand. Bennett railed against the “socialist hordes” represented by the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation.

“The socialist hordes are at the gates,” he’d roar. Milobar must battle the NDP, successor to the CCF. Plus, of course, his former BC Conservative colleagues.

Both represent a middle ground between socialism and rightwing conservatism.

Milobar is a long way from becoming premier of the province, but history suggests he shouldn’t be counted out.

HERE AND THERE

The Kamloops Chronicle will come out with its biggest edition ever on Friday — 36 pages. The paper has also sent a survey out to supporters asking what election topics they’d like to see covered in its October edition, and what kind of coverage they’d like to see…. Peter Milobar’s nemesis Kerry-Lynne Findlay has cancelled a press conference she’d scheduled for later today. It was supposed to include all remaining caucus members but she issued a notice late Sunday afternoon calling it off, without explanation…. Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has been sending Coun. Bill Sarai a barrage of questions via email on everything from Code of Conduct investigations to in-camera meetings to decommissioning of the Noble Creek water system to the costs of operating the homeless drop-in at 148 Victoria St. West to election signs. He’s been receiving few answers due to “legal reasons.” In one reply, Sarai told the mayor “I think it’s safe to say that we will continue to agree to disagree on the facts of the past four-plus years.”….

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, writes for the Kamloops Chronicle and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and was a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.