Bill Bennett (B.C. Liberal Party politician)
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Bennett (born 1950) is a Canadian
politician. Since 2001 he has represented the riding of East Kootenay in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
. He was a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party
.
In 1976, Bennett earned an honours degree in English from the University of Guelph
. In 1992, he received a law degree from Queen's University
. He practiced law in Cranbrook, British Columbia
for some time before becoming elected an MLA for East Kootenay in 2001.
On June 16, 2005, Bennett was appointed to the British Columbia cabinet as Minister of State for Mining. He resigned from this position on February 6, 2007 after it was revealed that he had sent a profanity-laden email to a constituent.
On June 23, 2008, Bennett was re-appointed to the B.C. cabinet as Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
On February 5, 2009 Bill Bennett sent another e-mail to a local tourism operator, calling him "narrow minded and bigoted".
On October 25, 2010, he was appointed to the post Minister of Energy.
On November 17, 2010, he was removed from Cabinet. Finance Minister Colin Hansen
said it was because Bennett was "not acting like a team player". Bennett later described B.C. premier Gordon Campbell "as an out-of-control bully". On November 19, 2010, Bennett was removed from the Liberal party caucus
.
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. Since 2001 he has represented the riding of East Kootenay in 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 ....
. He was a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
.
In 1976, Bennett earned an honours degree in English from the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
. In 1992, he received a law degree from 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...
. He practiced law in Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Cranbrook, British Columbia is a city in southeast British Columbia, located on the west side of the Kootenay River at its confluence with the St. Mary's River, It is the largest urban centre in the region known as the East Kootenay. As of 2006, Cranbrook's population is 18,267, and the...
for some time before becoming elected an MLA for East Kootenay in 2001.
On June 16, 2005, Bennett was appointed to the British Columbia cabinet as Minister of State for Mining. He resigned from this position on February 6, 2007 after it was revealed that he had sent a profanity-laden email to a constituent.
On June 23, 2008, Bennett was re-appointed to the B.C. cabinet as Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
On February 5, 2009 Bill Bennett sent another e-mail to a local tourism operator, calling him "narrow minded and bigoted".
On October 25, 2010, he was appointed to the post Minister of Energy.
On November 17, 2010, he was removed from Cabinet. Finance Minister Colin Hansen
Colin Hansen
Colin Hansen was Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier for the Canadian province of British Columbia from June 10, 2009 to March 13,2011. He had also served as Minister Responsible for Small Business since October 25, 2010. On November 30, 2010, he was additionally appointed as the Minister of...
said it was because Bennett was "not acting like a team player". Bennett later described B.C. premier Gordon Campbell "as an out-of-control bully". On November 19, 2010, Bennett was removed from the Liberal party 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:...
.