Dave Barrett

For other people with the same name, seeDavid Barrett (disambiguation).

For the radio journalist, seeDave Barrett (journalist).

David BarrettOCOBC(October 2, 1930 – February 2, 2018) was apoliticianandsocial workerinBritish Columbia,Canada. He was the 26thpremier of British Columbiafrom 1972 to 1975.

Dave Barrett OCOBC
Barrett in 1975
26thPremier of British Columbia
In office September 15, 1972 – December 22, 1975
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	W. A. C. Bennett
Succeeded by	Bill Bennett
British Columbia Leader of the Opposition
In office December 22, 1975 – May 20, 1984
Lieutenant Governor	John Robert Nicholson Walter Stewart Owen
Preceded by	William King
Succeeded by	Bob Skelly
In office September 5, 1969 – September 15, 1972
Preceded by	Thomas R. Berger
Succeeded by	W. A. C. Bennett
Leader of theBritish Columbia New Democratic Party
In office September 5, 1969 – May 20, 1984
Preceded by	Thomas R. Berger
Succeeded by	Bob Skelly
Member of Parliament forEsquimalt—Juan de Fuca
In office November 21, 1988 – October 25, 1993
Preceded by	Riding Established
Succeeded by	Keith Martin
Member of theBritish Columbia Legislative Assembly forVancouver East
In office June 3, 1976 – June 1, 1984 Serving withRobert Williams
Preceded by	Alexander Macdonald Robert Arthur Williams
Succeeded by	Robert Arthur Williams Glen Clark
Member of theBritish Columbia Legislative Assembly forCoquitlam
In office September 12, 1966 – December 11, 1975
Preceded by	Riding Established
Succeeded by	George Herman Kerster
Member of theBritish Columbia Legislative Assembly forDewdney
In office September 12, 1960 – September 12, 1966
Preceded by	Lyle Wicks
Succeeded by	George Mussallem
Personal details
Born	(1930-10-02)October 2, 1930 Vancouver,British Columbia
Died	February 2, 2018(2018-02-02)(aged 87) Victoria, British Columbia
Citizenship	Canadian
Nationality	Russian Canadian
Political party	New Democratic Party
Spouse	Shirley Hackman
Children	3
Alma mater	Seattle University Saint Louis University
Profession	Social worker

OBCribbon

Early life and career

Barrett was born inVancouver,British Columbia, the son of Rose (Hyatt or Hait)and Samuel Barrett, a peddler. His family was Jewish. His mother was fromOdesa,and his paternal grandparents were immigrants from Russia.

Barrett described his father as aFabian socialistand his mother as aCommunistwho voted CCF.

Barrett graduated fromSeattle Universitywith a degree in philosophy. He returned toVancouverin 1953 after graduating and married Shirley Hackman. The couple then moved toSt. Louis, Missouri,where Barrett attendedSt Louis Universityand earned a master's degree in social work.

The couple and their two children (a third would be born in 1960) returned to British Columbia in 1957 where he found work at Haney Correctional Institute as a personnel and staff training officer. He was asked to run for theCo-operative Commonwealth Federationafter giving a party member a tour of the facility.

Political career

Election to the legislature

Barrett was first elected to British Columbia's legislature in the1960 electionas aCo-operative Commonwealth Federation(soon to become theNew Democratic Party of British Columbia) member for the electoral district of Dewdney. He had been fired from his job by the provincial government in 1959 after it became known that he was running for a CCF nomination and had to fight for reinstatement 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 toTom Berger.However, Berger lost the1969 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.

Premier

Barrett led the NDP to its first provincial victory against the stagnatingSocial Creditgovernment ofW. A. C. Bennettin the1972 election.He becamePremieron September 15, 1972.

The Barrett government substantially reformed the welfare system, initiated a number of reforms such as establishing the province's Labour Relations Board, theInsurance Corporation of British Columbia(ICBC) in order to providepublic auto insuranceand theAgricultural Land Reserve(ALR) to protect the small supply of farmland in BC, all of which were retained by subsequent Social Credit and Liberal governments.The NDP also introduced more democracy into theLegislative Assembly of British Columbiathrough the introduction of question period and fullHansardtranscripts of legislative proceedings in the province.

On social policy, in 1973, B.C. bannedcorporal punishmentin all schools. It also bannedpay toilets,launchedPharmacare,increased the minimum wage, preservedCypress Bowlfor recreation, established theBC Ambulance Service,passed theHuman Rights Code,consumer protection laws, and introducedFrench immersionin schools.

Barrett's government also introduced a mineral royalties tax, which inflamed the mining industry and helped mobilize it into organizing to defeat the NDP electorally.

The Barrett government also created the provincial Crown Counsel prosecutorial service, centralizing prosecution control with the provincial Attorney General and removing it from local or municipal administration. The government also removed police stations from courthouses, emphasizing the separate functions of police and courts.

The NDP passed 367 bills, an average of a new law every three days, while in power.

Return to Opposition

Barrett called asnap electionin 1975, and was defeated by the Social Credit Party, then led byBill Bennett,son of the man Barrett had defeated in the previous election. Bennett's campaign focused on attacking the Barrett government's handling of provincial finances. Businesses and other free market supporters had united the opposition to the NDP under a revitalized Social Credit with both Liberal and Conservative (MLAs) crossing the floor to join the Socreds prior to the election.

In terms of raw numbers (but not percentage), the NDP increased its popular vote in the1975 election.However, its vote outside of the Vancouver area plummeted, costing it 20 seats and its majority. Barrett was personally defeated in the Coquitlam seat he had held since its creation in a 1965 redistribution, losing to Socred challengerGeorge Herman Kersterby only 18 votes. In June 1976, he was returned to the legislature in a by-election in Vancouver East, after sitting NDP MLARobert Arthur Williamsstepped aside. He remained an MLA for that riding until 1984, continuing to lead the NDP against Bennett's Socreds in the1979and1983 elections.

On October 6, 1983, Barrett was forcibly removed from the Legislative Assembly chamber by theSerjeant-at-Arms,during a raucous debate on the Social Credit government'sausterityprogram, for failing to abide by the Speaker's ruling and was banned from the legislature for several months.This was the first incident in the legislature's history where security staff had to intervene and remove a member from chamber.

Federal politics

Barrett was elected Member of Parliament for the riding ofEsquimalt—Juan de Fucain 1988. He ran for the leadership of the federalNew Democratic Partyin 1989, losing narrowly on the fourth ballot toAudrey McLaughlinat theparty's leadership convention.Rival candidateSimon De Jongagreed to support Barrett in exchange for being namedParty Whip.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 withWestern alienation,rather than focusing its attention onQuebec.The Quebec leadership of the NDP strongly opposed Barrett's candidacy, and future Quebec MPPhil Edmonstonthreatened to resign from the party if Barrett became leader.

During contentious attempts to amend Canada's constitution, Barrett opposed the 1987Meech Lake Accord,but reluctantly endorsed the 1992Charlottetown Accordto comply with party policy. He later referred to the party's support for the Accord as a mistake.

He lost his seat in the1993 federal electiontoReform PartycandidateKeith Martin.

Post-political life

From 1998 to 2000, Barrett chaired two inquiries into theLeaky condo crisisin BC entitledThe Commission of Inquiry into the Quality of Condominium Construction in British Columbia.The first of what became known as the "Barrett Commissions" was to investigate the cause of the crisis and make recommendations to prevent reoccurrence. The second was to make recommendations following the collapse of the New Home Warranty program.

Barrett retired from active politics and, for health reasons beginning in 2010, from public life altogether. In 2000, Barrett was appointed toAmerican Income Life Insurance Company's Labour Advisory Board as an Honorary Member.In 2003, he supportedBill Blaikie's bid to become leader of the federal NDP. In 2005, he was made an Officer of theOrder of Canada,and in 2012 a member of theOrder of British Columbia.In 2014, it was announced that Barrett hadAlzheimer's diseaseand was living in a care facility inVictoria, British Columbia.He died on February 2, 2018, aged 87.

A state memorial service was held for former B.C. premier Dave Barrett. The service took place at the University of Victoria's Farquhar Auditorium on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 10 a.m.

External links

• Dave Barrett – Parliament of Canada biography