William Moore Benidickson
Encyclopedia
William Moore "Bill" Benidickson, PC
(April 8, 1911 – April 1, 1985) was a Canadian
politician. He was the Liberal-Labour
Member of Parliament
for Kenora—Rainy River
for over twenty years.
Born in Manitoba of Iceland
ic stock, Benidickson served in World War II
as a Wing-Commander in the Royal Canadian Air Force
.
Following the war, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1945 federal election
. Due to the politics of Kenora—Rainy River which had a history electing Independent Labour politicians and where the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
posed a serious threat, the Liberals worked with the Communist Party of Canada
to run Liberal-Labour
candidates in federal and provincial elections. Accordingly, Benidickson ran and was elected as a "Liberal-Labour" MP for most of his parliamentary career though he always sat with the Liberal
caucus
and was considered a Liberal for all intents and purposes.
Benidickson served as parliamentary assistant to Finance minister
Douglas Abbott
before serving the same function to the Minister of Transport through the 1950s.
In 1963, Benidickson joined the Cabinet of Lester Pearson as Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys. Pearson appointed him to the Canadian Senate
in 1965 where he sat as a straight Liberal until his death in 1985.
Benidickson's wife, Agnes
was a member of Winnipeg
's prominent Richardson family and later served as Chancellor of Queen's University
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(April 8, 1911 – April 1, 1985) was a Canadian
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...
politician. He was the Liberal-Labour
Liberal-Labour (Canada)
The Liberal-Labour banner has also been used several times by candidates in Canadian elections:In the early twentieth century when the idea of trade unionists running for elected office under their own banner gained ground, several working class candidates on the provincial or federal level were...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Kenora—Rainy River
Kenora—Rainy River
Kenora—Rainy River was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 2004. It was located in the province of Ontario...
for over twenty years.
Born in Manitoba of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic stock, Benidickson served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a Wing-Commander in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
.
Following the war, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1945 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1945
The Canadian federal election of 1945 was the 20th general election in Canadian history. It was held June 11, 1945 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 20th Parliament of Canada...
. Due to the politics of Kenora—Rainy River which had a history electing Independent Labour politicians and where the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
posed a serious threat, the Liberals worked with the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
to run Liberal-Labour
Liberal-Labour (Canada)
The Liberal-Labour banner has also been used several times by candidates in Canadian elections:In the early twentieth century when the idea of trade unionists running for elected office under their own banner gained ground, several working class candidates on the provincial or federal level were...
candidates in federal and provincial elections. Accordingly, Benidickson ran and was elected as a "Liberal-Labour" MP for most of his parliamentary career though he always sat with the Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
and was considered a Liberal for all intents and purposes.
Benidickson served as parliamentary assistant to Finance minister
Minister of Finance (Canada)
The Minister of Finance is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible each year for presenting the federal government's budget...
Douglas Abbott
Douglas Abbott
Douglas Charles Abbott, PC was a Canadian Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister. He was born in Lennoxville, Quebec. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, Abbott served as both Minister of National Defence and Minister of Finance...
before serving the same function to the Minister of Transport through the 1950s.
In 1963, Benidickson joined the Cabinet of Lester Pearson as Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys. Pearson appointed him 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...
in 1965 where he sat as a straight Liberal until his death in 1985.
Benidickson's wife, Agnes
Agnes Benidickson
Agnes McCausland Benidickson, was the first female Chancellor of Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada, from 1980 to 1996....
was a member of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
's prominent Richardson family and later served as Chancellor of Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
.
External links
- Some Honourable Members biographical sketches of several MPs, including Benedickson.