W. A. C. Bennett and his choice of state enterprise : the 1958 case of British Columbia ferries

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dc.contributor.authorLeonard, Frank Edwarden_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-14T21:03:17Z
dc.date.available2024-08-14T21:03:17Z
dc.date.copyright2002en_US
dc.date.issued2002
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Historyen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en
dc.description.abstractPremier William Andrew Cecil Bennett announced the creation of British Columbia Ferries in 1958 amidst the chaos caused by strikes at the two private ferry operators that served southern Vancouver Island. Historians have since focused on W.A.C. Bennett's announcement and described his decision as simply the means to end these strikes. After one of the private firms subsequently withdrew its service, the Bennett Government purchased the assets of the remaining operator in 1961. Consequently, historical accounts have expanded the explanation of Bennett's creation of a provincially-owned monopoly to include his desire to ensure modern and frequent ferry service on the west coast. However, the strikes and poor service were only the circumstances surrounding the creation of 'Bennett's Navy.' Although they were the cause of state intervention, these circumstances do not explain Bennett's specific choice of state enterprise. This political champion of free enterprise chose to create this state enterprise because of his commitment to a comprehensive province-building agenda based on a post-war reconstruction plan. Bennett implemented this activist plan in a west coast populist style that reflected his bias in favour of public enterprise. Premier Bennett preferred to describe his 1958 decision as a reluctant one but this is simply not true. Just as was the case for railroad expansion and hydro-electric development, state enterprise was Bennett's preferred choice for ferry transportation because these entities allowed him to build his province his own way.
dc.format.extent100 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/18627
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titleW. A. C. Bennett and his choice of state enterprise : the 1958 case of British Columbia ferriesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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