Dave Barrett
Encyclopedia
David Barrett, OC
(born October 2, 1930 in Vancouver
, British Columbia
), commonly known as Dave Barrett, is a retired politician
and social worker in British Columbia
, Canada
. He was the 26th Premier
of British Columbia for three years between 1972 and 1975, the only Jewish premier
in the province
's history.
as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
(later to become the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
) member for the electoral district of Dewdney. He had to fight to be allowed to run as he was a civil servant, as at the time civil servants were barred from running for office.
He became known for his public speaking ability and held his seat through four elections. He ran for the provincial leadership of the NDP, but lost to Tom Berger
. However, Berger lost the 1969 election
, a contest that the NDP had been expected to win. He resigned, and there was a quick campaign to draft Barrett as party leader.
Barrett led the NDP to its first provincial victory against the stagnating Social Credit government of W.A.C. Bennett
in the 1972 election
. He became Premier on September 15, 1972.
His government was criticized for its spending, quickly taking the government from surplus to debt. The NDP argued that the deficit was not entirely its fault as it had introduced modern accounting practices, and were caught by the huge liabilities that the Socred government had hidden off the books.
The Barrett government substantially reformed the welfare system, initiated a number of reforms such as establishing the province's Labour Relations Board, and expanded the public sector
. The NDP also introduced more democracy into the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
through the introduction of question period and full Hansard transcripts of legislative proceedings in the province. The NDP also brought in the Agricultural Land Reserve
(ALR) to protect the small supply of farm land in BC. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
(ICBC) was formed to provide government car insurance. Both the ALR and ICBC are still functioning.
On social policy, in 1973, B.C. banned spanking in all schools.
The NDP passed a new law on average every three days while in power. The pace of change was enough to scare the centre and centre-right into uniting together under the Social Credit banner to oppose the NDP. Social Credit gained Members of the Legislative Assembly
(MLAs) from both the Conservatives and the Liberals.
Barrett called a snap election
in 1975, and was defeated by the Social Credit Party, then led by W.A.C.'s son, Bill Bennett. Bennett's campaign focused on attacking the Barrett government's handling of provincial finances.
In terms of raw numbers (but not percentage), the NDP increased its popular vote in the 1975 election
, it lost enough seats so it could no longer form the government. Barrett was personally defeated in the Coquitlam seat he had held since its creation in a 1965 redistribution. In June 1976, he was returned to the legislature in a by-election in Vancouver East, after sitting NDP MLA Robert A. Williams stepped aside. He remained an MLA for that riding until 1984, continuing to lead the NDP against Bennett's Socreds in the 1979
and 1983 elections
.
On October 6, 1983, Barrett, as the leader of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
was forcibly removed from Chamber by Legislature
Serjeant-at-Arms
for failing to abide by the Speaker's ruling. This was the first incident in the legislature history where security staff had to intervene and remove a member from chamber.
Barrett was elected Member of Parliament for the riding of Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca
in 1988.
He ran for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party
in 1989, losing narrowly on the fourth ballot to Audrey McLaughlin
at the party's leadership convention. Rival candidate Simon De Jong
agreed to support Barrett in exchange for being named Party Whip; unfortunately De Jong forgot that he was wearing a microphone as part of a CBC documentary on the convention and the back-room discussions leaked to the press. The surrounding controversy hurt De Jong but was short-lived. During the campaign, Barrett argued that the party should be concerned with Western alienation
, rather than focusing its attention on Quebec
. The Quebec leadership of the NDP strongly opposed Barrett's candidacy, and future Quebec MP Phil Edmonston
threatened to resign from the party if Barrett became leader.
During contentious attempts to amend Canada's constitution, Barrett opposed the 1987 Meech Lake Accord
, but reluctantly endorsed the 1992 Charlottetown Accord
to comply with party policy. He later referred to the party's support for the Accord as a mistake.
He lost his seat in the 1993 federal election
to Reform Party
candidate Keith Martin.
adopted a sovereigntist platform and severed its ties with the federal NDP. Although Edmonston would win the NDP its first seat in Quebec through a by-election, he was a Quebec nationalist who clashed with the party over its position on Canadian federalism
and against decentralization and devolving powers to Quebec. Barrett's warnings about Western alienation would prove prophetic in the 1993 federal election, as the Reform Party replaced the NDP as the protest voice west of Ontario.
's Labour Advisory Board as an Honorary Member. In 2003, he supported Bill Blaikie
's bid to become leader of the federal NDP. In 2005, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born October 2, 1930 in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
), commonly known as Dave Barrett, is a retired politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and social worker in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, 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 was the 26th Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
of British Columbia for three years between 1972 and 1975, the only Jewish premier
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
in the province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
's history.
Political career
Barrett was first elected to British Columbia's legislature in the 1960 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1960
The British Columbia general election of 1960 was the 26th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 3, 1960, and held on September 12, 1960. The new legislature met...
as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social-democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the official opposition to the governing British Columbia Liberal Party following the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia.The BC NDP is the provincial...
(later to become the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social-democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the official opposition to the governing British Columbia Liberal Party following the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia.The BC NDP is the provincial...
) member for the electoral district of Dewdney. He had to fight to be allowed to run as he was a civil servant, as at the time civil servants were barred from running for office.
He became known for his public speaking ability and held his seat through four elections. He ran for the provincial leadership of the NDP, but lost to Tom Berger
Thomas Berger (Canadian politician)
Thomas Rodney Berger, OC, OBC is a Canadian politician and jurist of Swedish descent. Berger was the leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party for most of 1969, prior to Dave Barrett.-Background:...
. However, Berger lost the 1969 election
British Columbia general election, 1969
The British Columbia general election of 1969 was the 29th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on July 21, 1969, and held on August 27, 1969...
, a contest that the NDP had been expected to win. He resigned, and there was a quick campaign to draft Barrett as party leader.
Barrett led the NDP to its first provincial victory against the stagnating Social Credit government of W.A.C. Bennett
W.A.C. Bennett
William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C...
in the 1972 election
British Columbia general election, 1972
The 30th general election for the Canadian province of British Columbia was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on July 24, 1972, and held on August 30, 1972...
. He became Premier on September 15, 1972.
His government was criticized for its spending, quickly taking the government from surplus to debt. The NDP argued that the deficit was not entirely its fault as it had introduced modern accounting practices, and were caught by the huge liabilities that the Socred government had hidden off the books.
The Barrett government substantially reformed the welfare system, initiated a number of reforms such as establishing the province's Labour Relations Board, and expanded the public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
. The NDP also introduced more democracy into the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
through the introduction of question period and full Hansard transcripts of legislative proceedings in the province. The NDP also brought in the Agricultural Land Reserve
Agricultural Land Reserve
The Agricultural Land Reserve is a collection of land in the Canadian province of British Columbia in which agriculture is recognized as the priority use. Farming is encouraged and non-agricultural uses are controlled. In total, the ALR covers approximately and includes private and public lands...
(ALR) to protect the small supply of farm land in BC. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is a provincial crown corporation in British Columbia created in 1973 by the NDP government of British Columbia. The original purpose of ICBC was to provide universal public auto insurance in British Columbia...
(ICBC) was formed to provide government car insurance. Both the ALR and ICBC are still functioning.
On social policy, in 1973, B.C. banned spanking in all schools.
The NDP passed a new law on average every three days while in power. The pace of change was enough to scare the centre and centre-right into uniting together under the Social Credit banner to oppose the NDP. Social Credit gained Members of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLAs) from both the Conservatives and the Liberals.
Barrett called a snap election
Snap election
A snap election is an election called earlier than expected. Generally it refers to an election in a parliamentary system called when not required , usually to capitalize on a unique electoral opportunity or to decide a pressing issue...
in 1975, and was defeated by the Social Credit Party, then led by W.A.C.'s son, Bill Bennett. Bennett's campaign focused on attacking the Barrett government's handling of provincial finances.
In terms of raw numbers (but not percentage), the NDP increased its popular vote in the 1975 election
British Columbia general election, 1975
The British Columbia general election of 1975 was the 31st general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on November 3, 1975, and held on December 11, 1975...
, it lost enough seats so it could no longer form the government. Barrett was personally defeated in the Coquitlam seat he had held since its creation in a 1965 redistribution. In June 1976, he was returned to the legislature in a by-election in Vancouver East, after sitting NDP MLA Robert A. Williams stepped aside. He remained an MLA for that riding until 1984, continuing to lead the NDP against Bennett's Socreds in the 1979
British Columbia general election, 1979
The British Columbia general election of 1979 was the 32nd general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 3, 1979...
and 1983 elections
British Columbia general election, 1983
The British Columbia general election of 1983 was the 33rd provincial election for the province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 7, 1983. The election was held on May 5, 1983...
.
On October 6, 1983, Barrett, as the leader of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social-democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the official opposition to the governing British Columbia Liberal Party following the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia.The BC NDP is the provincial...
was forcibly removed from Chamber by Legislature
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
Serjeant-at-Arms
Serjeant-at-Arms
A Sergeant-at-Arms is an officer appointed by a deliberative body, usually a legislature, to keep order during its meetings. The word sergeant is derived from the Latin serviens, which means "servant"....
for failing to abide by the Speaker's ruling. This was the first incident in the legislature history where security staff had to intervene and remove a member from chamber.
Barrett was elected Member of Parliament for the riding of Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca
Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca
Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca is a federal electoral district in the province of British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988.-Demographics:-Geography:It initially consisted of:...
in 1988.
He ran for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
in 1989, losing narrowly on the fourth ballot to Audrey McLaughlin
Audrey McLaughlin
Audrey McLaughlin, PC, OC was leader of Canada's New Democratic Party from 1989 to 1995. She was the first female leader of a political party with representation in the Canadian House of Commons, as well as the first federal political party leader to represent an electoral district in a Canadian...
at the party's leadership convention. Rival candidate Simon De Jong
Simon De Jong
Simon Leendert De Jong was a Canadian parliamentarian. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1979 federal election as an New Democratic Party Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan...
agreed to support Barrett in exchange for being named Party Whip; unfortunately De Jong forgot that he was wearing a microphone as part of a CBC documentary on the convention and the back-room discussions leaked to the press. The surrounding controversy hurt De Jong but was short-lived. During the campaign, Barrett argued that the party should be concerned with Western alienation
Western Alienation
In Canadian politics, Western alienation is a concept that the Western provinces - British Columbia , Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba - have been alienated, and in extreme cases excluded, from mainstream Canadian political affairs in favour of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec...
, rather than focusing its attention on 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....
. The Quebec leadership of the NDP strongly opposed Barrett's candidacy, and future Quebec MP Phil Edmonston
Phil Edmonston
Louis-Phillip Edmonston is a Canadian consumer advocate, writer and former politician. He is one of the few politicians with dual American/Canadian citizenship to be elected to Canadian Parliament....
threatened to resign from the party if Barrett became leader.
During contentious attempts to amend Canada's constitution, Barrett opposed the 1987 Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
, but reluctantly endorsed the 1992 Charlottetown Accord
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
to comply with party policy. He later referred to the party's support for the Accord as a mistake.
He lost his seat in the 1993 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
to Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
candidate Keith Martin.
Political legacy
Some have felt that Barrett would have made a more effective leader than McLaughlin, since the NDP had long been the voice of western discontent, but the party had never had much of a presence in Quebec. In 1989, the Quebec New Democratic PartyNouveau Parti démocratique du Québec
The New Democratic Party of Quebec was a political party in Quebec, Canada, with social-democratic and democratic socialist ideological tendencies...
adopted a sovereigntist platform and severed its ties with the federal NDP. Although Edmonston would win the NDP its first seat in Quebec through a by-election, he was a Quebec nationalist who clashed with the party over its position on Canadian federalism
Canadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
and against decentralization and devolving powers to Quebec. Barrett's warnings about Western alienation would prove prophetic in the 1993 federal election, as the Reform Party replaced the NDP as the protest voice west of Ontario.
Post-political life
Barrett is retired from active politics but continues to give speeches on current issues from time to time. Since 2000, Barrett has served on American Income Life Insurance CompanyAmerican Income Life Insurance Company
American Income Life Insurance Company based in Waco, Texas, provides supplemental life insurance to labor unions, credit unions, and associations. American Income Life was founded in 1951. The company’s executive offices have been located in Waco, Texas, since 1959...
's Labour Advisory Board as an Honorary Member. In 2003, he supported Bill Blaikie
Bill Blaikie
William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Minister of Conservation and Government House Leader...
's bid to become leader of the federal NDP. In 2005, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.