Politics - Elections - 1966

1966 Election

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The 1966 British Columbia election was held on September 12, 1966, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. The election was won by the Social Credit Party, led by Premier W.A.C. Bennett, who was re-elected to a sixth consecutive term in office.

In the election, the Social Credit Party won 33 of the 55 seats in the legislature, while the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Robert Strachan, won 16 seats, and the Liberal Party, led by Ray Perrault, won six seats.

The Social Credit Party's campaign focused on issues such as economic growth and development, including the construction of hydroelectric dams and other infrastructure projects. Premier W.A.C. Bennett was a prominent and controversial figure in British Columbia politics, and his government's policies had helped to create jobs and grow the economy.

The NDP's campaign focused on issues such as social justice, environmental protection, and public ownership of resources. Despite making some gains in the election, the party was unable to overcome the popularity of the Social Credit government and fell short of forming the government.

The Liberal Party, led by Ray Perrault, won six seats in the election, and their campaign focused on issues such as healthcare, education, and social services.

The 1966 British Columbia election was significant for a number of reasons. It marked the sixth consecutive victory for the Social Credit Party in British Columbia, which had been in power since 1952. The election also saw the emergence of the NDP and the Liberal Party as serious contenders in provincial politics.

One significant event that occurred during the 1966 British Columbia election was a debate between the three party leaders, W.A.C. Bennett of the Social Credit Party, Robert Strachan of the NDP, and Ray Perrault of the Liberal Party. The debate was broadcast on radio and television and was the first time that leaders of the three major parties had debated during a British Columbia election.

The debate covered a range of issues, including healthcare, education, and economic development, and was seen as a milestone in British Columbia politics, as it helped to establish the practice of holding leaders' debates in subsequent elections.

Another important event of the 1966 British Columbia election was the campaign of the British Columbia Social Credit League, a splinter group of the Social Credit Party that was formed in opposition to W.A.C. Bennett's leadership. The BC Social Credit League contested a number of seats in the election, and although it did not win any seats, its campaign highlighted internal divisions within the Social Credit Party.

The 1966 election also saw a number of prominent candidates run for office, including Grace McCarthy, who would go on to become a prominent cabinet minister in the Social Credit government, and Dave Barrett, who would later become the premier of British Columbia as the leader of the NDP.

Overall, the 1966 British Columbia election was a significant moment in the province's political history, as it demonstrated the continued dominance of the Social Credit Party and the growing influence of the NDP and the Liberal Party.

Party Leaders

Party  Party leader Elected
Social Credit W.A.C. Bennett 38
New Democrats Tom Berger 12
Liberal Patrick Lucey McGeer 5
Progressive Conservative John DeWolf -
Independent   -
Communist   -
Social Conservative   -
Total   55
1966 BC Election Results
      Conservative Liberal NDP Social Credit Green Others
Year Seats Winner % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats
1966 55 SC 0% 0 20% 6 34% 16 46% 33 0% 0 0% 0

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Reference: Article by Greg Scott (Staff Historian), 2023

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