Monday August 2, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
Today a special “Sixty” webpage was launched by the BC NDP in recognition of former Premier Dave Barrett whose government in 1974 started BC Day as a statutory holiday.
ARCHIVE
PART 1 – as first published Saturday February 3, 2018
by Mary P Brooke, Editor ~ Island Social Trends [West Shore Voice News in 2018]
“Today, BC has lost a giant, former premier Dave Barrett,” said Premier BC John Horgan in a statement released late Friday afternoon, February 2.
Barrett, who led an NDP government 1972 to 1975 died February 2 at age 87. His health deteriorated in his later years due to Alzheimer’s.
Barrett led BC’s first NDP government, busting out of office a 20-year centre-right Social-Credit government. “His visionary leadership and unflinching commitment to the well-being of ordinary people around the province led to lasting change that shaped our province for the better. In just one short term, his government delivered our first modern ambulance service, the Agricultural Land Reserve and public auto insurance. We are all better off, thanks to his tireless work and immeasurable contributions to public life,” said Premier Horgan.
Horgan said that Barrett’s sense of humour and ability to command a room with his oratory was legendary. “First and foremost, I will always remember his commitment to working for regular people.”
“He was an inspiration to me and many other British Columbians, and I am grateful for his friendship and guidance over the years. His legacy will live on in our hearts,” said Horgan. Since taking the reins of the first NDP government in 16 years in BC last July, Horgan seems to have taken a page from the Barrett book of politics by getting many initiatives in place right off the bat.
Back in 1972 Barrett took a bold path, writing in his 1995 memoir: “We agreed unanimously to strike while the iron was hot. Our government represented the first real break from the traditional power base of the province. We were free and unfettered to roam in new directions.”
Today BC Green Party leader Andrew Weaver said about Dave Barrett: “As Premier, he enacted bold, sweeping changes that touched on every aspect of life in BC. He has left a lasting imprint on our province. Many of the reforms enacted under his leadership are still with us today, including lasting protection to our agricultural land through the Agricultural Land Reserve, and Pharmacare.”
Barrett’s education minister at the time did away with corporal punishment in BC schools.
PART 2 – As first published March 3, 2018
by Mary P Brooke, Editor ~ Island Social Trends [West Shore Voice News in 2018]
The presence of former Premier Dave Barrett loomed large today. Not only on the screen above the stage at the State Memorial in his honour, but in the hearts of everyone there and those watching via livestream.
Nearly 1,000 people attended at the University of Victoria’s Farquhar Auditorium for the 10 am occasion.
By all accounts, this is a man who is now fully and joyfully remembered as both a ‘giant’ of the people and a ‘giantslayer’ of lesser glories. He was BC’s 26th Premier.
Former BC Dave Barrett during a short three-year term in office (1972-1975) is forever in the history books for preserving agricultural land in BC by creating the Agricultural Land Reserve, bringing in public automobile insurance so that all vehicle owners could be covered, and creating Pharmacare drug plan coverage for seniors. His government brought in Hansard and Question Period in the legislature, and abolished corporal punishment in schools. And making all that possible his nimble political fervor brought down a 40-year-run of the right-of-centre Socred government of the day.
Speakers delivering tributes included BC Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon, Premier John Horgan, Retired Roman Catholic Bishop Remi J de Roo, Former BC Minister of Labour Bill King (former MLA Shuswap-Revelstoke), former BC Minister of Lands, Forests and Water Resources Bob Williams (former MLA Vancouver East), Former BC Cabinet Minister and MLA (Vancouver-Hastings) and now Chair of ICBC Joy McPhail, and Marc Elisen who was Barrett’s Deputy Minister and Planning Secretary.
Lt Gov Judith Guichon acknowledged Barrett as BC’s first NDP premier, calling him a champion of the underdog. “He is part of the very fabric of the province,” Guichon said, noting that 357 Bills were passed in the Legislature during his time in office.
BC Premier John Horgan addressed the crowd with this: “He captured the hearts of each and every one of you.” Remarking further on Barrett’s power of oratory, Horgan noted in particular Barrett’s “passion and power of the message of social justice”. Horgan declared that no one will ever forget Dave Barrett.
Barrett’s three grown children spoke about their father with memories, fondness, and emotion.
The on-stage emcee today for the 1-hour-20-minute occasion was BC Finance Minister and Deputy Premier Carole James. A powerful rendition of O Canada was led by a Grade 10 student from Esquimalt High School, Isolde Welby. On stage ahead of the formal portion was the Chroma String Quartet.
Visual presentations on the large screen were modest and brief. The entire event was light-hearted, with a good balance of remembering Dave Barrett for both his political contributions and his happy family life. His wife Shirley attended, and was clearly seen by everyone in her husband’s life as a steady, loving source of support.
In the audience was a wide range of VIPs and the general public, many of whom have been long-time NDP supporters. Mayors of many of Greater Victoria’s municipalities were there, as well as several MLAs.
Dave Barrett (October 2, 1930 to February 2, 2018) had Alzheimer’s leading up to his death at age 87.