Edgar Benson

Edgar John "Ben" Benson PC FCA (1923-5-28 – 2011-9-2) was a Canadian politician, businessman, diplomat, and university professor. He held four Cabinet posts, most notably that of Minister of Finance under Pierre Trudeau, where he was instrumental in reforming Canada's income tax law.

After serving overseas in the Second World War as a sergeant in the Royal Canadian Artillery, Benson attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree. He became a chartered accountant and partner in the accounting firm of England, Leonard, Macpherson and Company, and co-owner of CKLC. Prior to his entry into politics, he was also a lecturer in Business Administration at Queen's, in the capacity of Assistant Professor of Commerce.

Political life
He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1962 general election as the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston, Ontario. Initially appointed in 1962 as Parliamentary Secretary to then Minister of Finance Walter Gordon, he entered the Cabinet of Prime Minister Lester Pearson in 1964 as Minister of National Revenue, and served concurrently from 1966 to 1968 as President of the Treasury Board.

He was an early supporter of Pierre Trudeau in the 1968 Liberal leadership campaign to replace the retiring Pearson, and, together with Jean Marchand, was co-chairman of Trudeau's leadership bid. He was later appointed Minister of Finance, serving from 1968 to 1972.

He served as Minister of National Defence from January to August 1972, when he retired from politics, choosing not to run in the 1972 election. He served as President of the Canadian Transport Commission from 1972 to 1982, and as Canadian Ambassador to Ireland from 1982 to 1985.

Impact as Minister of Finance
Benson wore a pair of new shoes on budget day in 1968, although he said, "He didn't buy them just for the budget." The following year he did not wear new shoes when delivering the budget, saying jokingly that he couldn't afford them, and in 1970 proudly displayed his worn soles on budget day.

Benson's balanced budget for 196970 would be the last until Paul Martin's budget of 199798. Later in 1969, he introduced his white paper on Canadian tax reform, which paved the way for:


 * a capital gains tax that was severely criticized by the business community, particularly Israel Asper who wrote a book called The Benson Iceberg, which condemned the measure.
 * a tax deduction for child care as a means of helping mothers enter the workforce.
 * greater use of Registered Retirement Savings Plans.

The proposals were subjected to intensive debate that lasted more than a year, and were only passed after significant amendment, and then only through the use of closure. They came into effect in 1972.

He was also instrument in rolling out a national medical care plan and supplementary old age pensions, and played a key role in federal-provincial relations.

Honours
Benson was conferred honorary degrees as a Doctor of Laws from:


 * the Royal Military College of Canada in 1973, and
 * Queen's University in 2008