Aimé Bénard
Encyclopedia
Aimé Bénard was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served as interim leader of the provincial Conservatives
in 1915, and was later appointed to the Canadian Senate
.
Bénard was born in Henryville
, Quebec
, and was educated at the normal school in that community. He later moved to Manitoba, and worked as a financial agent. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
in the 1907 provincial election
, defeating Liberal
incumbent Joseph H. Prefontaine by 339 votes. The Conservatives won this election, and Bénard served in the legislature as a government backbencher. He was re-elected for Assiniboia in the 1910 election
, and for Iberville in the 1914 campaign
.
Conservative premier
Rodmond P. Roblin was forced to resign in 1915, amid a serious corruption scandal. Another election
was called, which the Liberals won with a landslide majority. Bénard was one of only five Tories returned to the legislature. His re-election was primarily due to the Conservative Party's continued popularity in francophone
areas of the province. The Conservatives were more supportive of francophone education rights than the Liberals
, and received support from this community; four of the party's five legislators were francophone.
Bénard was chosen as the Conservative Party's interim leader shortly after the election. The party chose another francophone, Albert Prefontaine
, as its house leader in 1916.
Bénard was appointed to the Canadian Senate on September 3, 1917, on the recommendation of Prime Minister
Robert Borden
. He served in the Senate until his death.
Former Major League Baseball player Marvin Benard
claims to be a distant nephew of Aimé Bénard, although no DNA testing currently available has confirmed this.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as interim leader of the provincial Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
in 1915, and was later appointed to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
.
Bénard was born in Henryville
Henryville, Quebec
Henryville is a municipality in the province of Quebec, Canada, located in the Regional County Municipality of Le Haut-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,529.-Population:Population trend...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, and was educated at the normal school in that community. He later moved to Manitoba, and worked as a financial agent. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
in the 1907 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1907
Manitoba's general election of March 7, 1907 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a third consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party of Manitoba, led by premier Rodmond Palen Roblin...
, defeating Liberal
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
incumbent Joseph H. Prefontaine by 339 votes. The Conservatives won this election, and Bénard served in the legislature as a government backbencher. He was re-elected for Assiniboia in the 1910 election
Manitoba general election, 1910
Manitoba's general election of July 11, 1910 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fourth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party of Manitoba, led by premier Rodmond Palen Roblin. Roblin's electoral machine won...
, and for Iberville in the 1914 campaign
Manitoba general election, 1914
Manitoba's general election of July 10, 1914 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fifth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party, led by premier Rodmond P. Roblin...
.
Conservative premier
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
Rodmond P. Roblin was forced to resign in 1915, amid a serious corruption scandal. Another election
Manitoba general election, 1915
Manitoba's general election of August 6, 1915 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held only one year after the previous general election of 1914. In that election, the governing Conservatives of premier Rodmond P. Roblin were...
was called, which the Liberals won with a landslide majority. Bénard was one of only five Tories returned to the legislature. His re-election was primarily due to the Conservative Party's continued popularity in francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
areas of the province. The Conservatives were more supportive of francophone education rights than the Liberals
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
, and received support from this community; four of the party's five legislators were francophone.
Bénard was chosen as the Conservative Party's interim leader shortly after the election. The party chose another francophone, Albert Prefontaine
Albert Prefontaine
Albert Préfontaine was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as leader of the Manitoba Conservatives in the late 1910s, and was subsequently a member of the United Farmers of Manitoba....
, as its house leader in 1916.
Bénard was appointed to the Canadian Senate on September 3, 1917, on the recommendation of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Robert Borden
Robert Borden
Sir Robert Laird Borden, PC, GCMG, KC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920, and was the third Nova Scotian to hold this office...
. He served in the Senate until his death.
Former Major League Baseball player Marvin Benard
Marvin Benard
Marvin Larry Benard [buh-NARD] is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who batted and threw left-handed....
claims to be a distant nephew of Aimé Bénard, although no DNA testing currently available has confirmed this.