Time for a Bennett Statue on Parliament Hill

By John Boyko

On Parliament Hill stands silent, dignified testament to a number of Canadians whose greatness earned them the gratitude of a people. The statues remind us and tell visitors of who we are, what we value and that which we aspire to be. They tell our story. But there is one man, one leader, absent from the hill whose achievements and contributions are such that he deserves to take his place among those so thoughtfully and properly remembered – Prime Minister Richard Bedford Bennett.

In July, 1930 Canada’s economy was plummeting toward depression. Life savings were evaporating, unemployment was up and exports were down. Riding on the popularity of his promise to “blast” Canada’s way into world markets Bennett defeated the wily William Lyon Mackenzie King who, like American President Hoover, seemed unable to comprehend the problem let alone offer anything more than patience as a solution.

Becoming prime minister fulfilled a life-long dream but the mess he inherited was a nightmare. Over the next five years, Bennett’s name became synonymous with the worst of the Great Depression’s ravages—from Bennett-buggies to Bennett-coffee to Bennett-boroughs. He remains widely viewed now as he was mockingly portrayed then – an out of touch millionaire bachelor, an ineffectual, autocratic leader, and a politician who “flip-flopped” in a last minute attempt to court popularity.

But views of him then were as wrong as much that was written about him later. Putting partisanship and emotion aside allows one to see Bennett as a principled leader guided by a consistent dedication to red tory principles regarding respect for the positive power of capitalism twinned with a constructive role for government. Throughout his career he remained true to those ideas and never surrendered principle in a pursuit of power.

Bennett led an activist government that provided immediate relief to those in need then restructured the economy to mitigate the worst of future economic calamities. His government increased trade with a host of countries. He hammered out a trade deal with the United States that was enacted weeks after he left office. He oversaw negotiations that would lead to the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Bennett’s government modernized unemployment insurance, established a minimum wage and limits on work hours, extended federally backed farm credit, enacted fair-trade and anti-monopoly legislation and stabilized food prices while saving thousands of farms with the creation of a revamped Wheat Board. He wrestled control of Canada’s monetary policy from chartered banks with his establishment of the indispensable Bank of Canada. To protect and promote Canadian culture and national unity, Bennett formed the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission that became the CBC. Bennett’s bold challenges and actions led to a reinterpretation of the constitution that allowed for the establishment of social policies which Canadians now proclaim as their birthright.

By 1935, Bennett had become the punching bag for those who sought someone to blame for all the depression had so cruelly visited upon them. Things were getting better but not quickly enough. His over reaction to the On To Ottawa Trek led to bloodshed and a nick-name – Iron Heel Bennett. A series of radio addresses outlined policies he envisioned based on principles he had espoused throughout his career. Canadians were frightened less by the message than by the images and tone employed to convey it. Many were confused by a politician who actually told unvarnished truths.

Months later, the cautious Mackenzie King was back with a majority. While he had railed against much that Bennett had done he changed little. The momentum that the Bennett government had begun informed Canadian policies and priorities for generations.

Although Canadians were done with him, Bennett was not yet finished with public service. He fulfilled a life-long dream to retire in England and purchased a large home next to his childhood friend, Lord Beaverbrook. Bennett made tremendous contributions to the war effort, especially in building the Royal Air Force that was able to respond to the Blitz and save the country. Churchill rewarded his service with an appointment to the House of Lords.

While in England, Bennett divested himself of the many business connections that had made him a multi-millionaire by the time he was 30 years of age. Throughout his life he had given generously to Canadian charities, universities, churches and individuals and he continued to do so until he had given nearly all of his money away. His funeral was well attended and the words spoken were kind. He is the only Canadian prime minister whose grave lies outside the country.

Bennett was not a perfect prime minister. There is no such thing. He was not a perfect human being – none of us are.  But he was an engaged citizen who held elected positions in municipal, territorial, provincial and the federal governments. He was a remarkable person who was a school principal at 19, a successful corporate lawyer in his 20s and a wealthy businessman who lived humbly, owning neither a car or, until retirement, a house. He was a transformational leader whose policies, programs and vision helped create the modern Canadian state.

Bennett deserves to be remembered. I stand with David Asper, Queen’s University’s Arthur Milnes, Senator Hugh Segal and others who state with pride and determination that R. B. Bennett deserves a statue on Parliament Hill.

 

John Boyko is the author of five books including the critically acclaimed Bennett: The Rebel That Challenged and Changed a Nation, the first major biography of Canada’s 11^th prime minister. His current book is the bestselling Blood and Daring: How Canada Fought the American Civil War and Forged a Nation. John lives in Lakefield, Ontario.