138 BCBusiness july 2015
public adamantly opposed. And he
turned B.C. into a really confrontational
place. That's why he was hated."
In broad circles, in the days leading
up to Expo, he was hated. But in hind-
sight, Bennett almost seems to have
planned it that way. As Bob Plecas
tells it in his biography, Bill Bennett:
A Mandarin's View, Bennett—who had
previously been happy to let cabinet
ministers take the lead on many files—
stepped to the fore during the most
difficult restraint years, saying that he
wanted to relieve others of the burden
of defending an incredibly unpopular
program. According to Bud Smith,
Bennett stumped his way through
the 1983 election saying, "We'll do it
together. We'll come out of it together.
And together we will reap the benefit."
And yet when Expo came—when it was
time to "reap the benefit"—the man
who had taken the risk, and the flak,
slipped quietly out the side door.
"The fact that he didn't build a
legacy, as many politicians do, perfectly
reflects one of his fundamental tenets
of governance," says Smith. "He always
said, 'If you want to make money or live
in fame, don't get involved in politics.'
He saw politics as public service—in
which a job well done is its own reward.
He lived that."
■
According to Bud
Smith, Bennett
Stumped hiS wAy
through the 1983
election SAying,
"we'll do it together.
we'll come out of
it together. And
together we will
reAp the Benefit."
And yet when expo
cAme—when it wAS
time to "reAp the
Benefit"—the mAn
who hAd tAken the
riSk, And the flAk,
Slipped quietly out
the Side door
