Whether we loved him or hated him, there is one thing we should all agree on: Dave Barrett changed this province for the better. It would be hard to overstate his impact on British Columbia.
In less than three and a half years as premier, from 1972 to 1975, Barrett鈥檚 New Democratic Party government gave us the Insurance Corp. of sa国际传媒, the Agricultural Land Reserve, Pharmacare, sa国际传媒鈥檚 first guaranteed-income program for seniors, a provincewide ambulance service, Hansard and question period, and full-time MLAs. Schools were no longer allowed to use the strap on students.
Under Barrett, the government passed a new bill, on average, every three days.
In Victoria, Barrett鈥檚 government paid for the reconstruction and expansion of the causeway and harbour, and launched a restoration program for the Parliament Buildings, which had been allowed to deteriorate over the years.
Hard work was Barrett鈥檚 way. He worked hard all his life, launching a career in politics in 1960, when he was just 29. He was 41 when he became the province鈥檚 first NDP premier, ending W.A.C. Bennett鈥檚 20-year rule.
While in office, he had to fight battles within his party and without. Through it all, Barrett did not back down.
Barrett died Friday, after dealing with Alzheimer鈥檚 for several years. The difference he made to British Columbia will last forever.
