Edgar Benson | |
|---|---|
 Benson,c. 1968 | |
| Minister of National Defence | |
| In office January 28, 1972 – August 31, 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Donald Macdonald |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Eudes Dubé (acting) |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office April 20, 1968 – January 28, 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Mitchell Sharp |
| Succeeded by | John Turner |
| President of the Treasury Board | |
| In office October 1, 1966 – July 5, 1968 | |
| Prime Minister | Lester B. Pearson Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Charles Drury |
| Minister of National Revenue | |
| In office June 29, 1964 – January 17, 1968 | |
| Prime Minister | Lester B. Pearson |
| Preceded by | George McIlraith (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Jean Chrétien |
| Member of Parliament forKingston (1962–1968); Kingston and the Islands (1968–1972) | |
| In office June 18, 1962 – October 29, 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Graydon Allmark |
| Succeeded by | Flora MacDonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edgar John Benson (1923-05-28)May 28, 1923 Cobourg, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | September 2, 2011(2011-09-02) (aged 88) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Resting place | Beechwood Cemetery |
| Party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Louise van Laer(1946–1974) Mary Jane Binks(1987–2011) |
| Alma mater | Queen's University |
| Profession | Chartered Accountant |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | .svg) Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1946 |
| Rank |  Sergeant |
| Unit | 1st Survey Regiment,RCA I Canadian Corps |
Edgar John "Ben"BensonPC FCA (May 28, 1923 – September 2, 2011) was aCanadianpolitician, businessman,diplomat, and university professor. He held four cabinet posts, most notably that ofMinister of Finance underPierre Trudeau, where he was instrumental in reforming Canada's income tax law.[1] He was described as "Pierre Trudeau's unflappable finance minister, thepipe-smoking financial wizard who raised the ire of corporate Canada in the 1970s by bringing in acapital gains tax."[1]
After serving overseas in theSecond World War as asergeant in theRoyal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, Benson attendedQueen's University inKingston, Ontario, where he obtained hisBachelor of Commerce degree. He became achartered accountant and partner in the accounting firm of England, Leonard, Macpherson and Company, and co-owner ofCKLC.[2] Prior to his entry into politics, he also taughtBusiness Administration at Queen's, in the capacity ofAssistant Professor of Commerce.[3][4]
He was first elected to theHouse of Commons of Canada in the1962 general election as theLiberalMember of Parliament (MP) forKingston, Ontario. Initially appointed in 1962 asParliamentary Secretary to thenMinister of FinanceWalter Gordon, he entered theCabinet ofPrime MinisterLester Pearson in 1964 asMinister of National Revenue, and served concurrently from 1966 to 1968 as the firstPresident of the Treasury Board.
He was an early supporter ofPierre Trudeau in the1968 Liberal leadership campaign to replace the retiring Pearson, and, together withJean Marchand, was co-chairman of Trudeau's leadership bid.[1] He was later appointedMinister of Finance, serving from 1968 to 1972.
Benson's balancedbudget for 1969-70 would be the last untilPaul Martin'sbudget of 1997-98.[5] Later in 1969, he introduced hiswhite paper on Canadian tax reform, which paved the way for:
The proposals were subjected to intensive debate that lasted more than a year. Those concerning the capital gains tax were severely criticized by the business community, particularlyIsrael Asper, who condemned the measure.[9] The reforms were only passed after significant amendment, and even then only through the use ofclosure.[1] They came into effect on January 1, 1972, as prescribed by the1971 Canadian federal budget.[10]
Marc Lalonde, a colleague and future Finance Minister, later said, "He was in finance at a critical time, he revolutionized the system. He launched a revolution. It was a revolution, a necessary step and a demanding task. What he did was economically justified. The basic tax structure that he put in place is still alive. No one has really touched it since."[1]
He was also instrumental in rolling out a national medical care plan and supplementary old age pensions and played a key role in federal-provincial relations.
Benson wore a pair ofnew shoes on budget day in1968, although he said, "He didn't buy them just for the budget."[11] The following year he did not wear new shoes when delivering the budget, saying jokingly that he couldn't afford them,[12] and in1970 proudly displayed his worn soles on budget day.[13]
He later served asMinister of National Defence from January to August 1972, when he retired from politics, choosing not to run in the1972 election.
Benson served as President of theCanadian Transport Commission from 1972 to 1982,[14] and as CanadianAmbassador toIreland from 1982 to 1985.[15] He died on September 2, 2011, at the age of 88.[16]
Benson was conferred honorary degrees as aDoctor of Laws from:
| 1962 Canadian federal election:Kingston | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | ||||||
| Liberal | Edgar Benson | 16,828 | ||||||
| Progressive Conservative | Benjamin Allmark | 13,599 | ||||||
| New Democratic | John McKinnon | 1,468 | ||||||
| Social Credit | Ernest Hogan | 214 | ||||||
| 1963 Canadian federal election:Kingston | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | ||||||
| Liberal | Edgar Benson | 18,425 | ||||||
| Progressive Conservative | J. Earl McEwen | 12,879 | ||||||
| New Democratic | Denis Kalman | 2,400 | ||||||
| Social Credit | Grace C.A. Gough | 194 | ||||||
| 1965 Canadian federal election:Kingston | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | ||||||
| Liberal | Edgar Benson | 16,022 | ||||||
| Progressive Conservative | J. Earl McEwen | 12,766 | ||||||
| New Democratic | John Meister | 3,530 | ||||||
| 1968 Canadian federal election:Kingston and the Islands | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| Liberal | Edgar Benson | 16,234 | 49.7 | |||||
| Progressive Conservative | Boggart Trumpour | 11,799 | 36.1 | |||||
| New Democratic | Brendan McConnell | 4,636 | 14.2 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 32,669 | 100.0 | ||||||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
