Les Benjamin Explained

Les Benjamin
Birth Date:29 April 1925
Birth Place:Medicine Hat, Alberta
Birth Name:Leslie Gordon Benjamin
Death Place:Regina, Saskatchewan
Profession:Manager, railway station agent, secretary, telegrapher
Party:New Democratic Party
Residence:Regina, Saskatchewan
Office:Member of Parliament
Term Start1:1968
Term End1:1979
Constituency1:Regina—Lake Centre
Predecessor1:first member
Successor1:riding dissolved
Term Start2:1979
Term End2:1988
Constituency2:Regina West
Predecessor2:first member
Successor2:riding dissolved
Term Start3:1988
Term End3:1993
Constituency3:Regina—Lumsden
Predecessor3:first member
Successor3:John Solomon
Spouse:Constance E. Friesen

Leslie Gordon "Les" Benjamin (April 29, 1925 – June 16, 2003) was a Canadian politician who served in the House of Commons of Canada. Benjamin was first elected to the House of Commons in 1968 as a New Democratic Party MP from Saskatchewan. In parliament, as the NDP's Transport critic, he often clashed with Otto Lang over the Crow Rate that allowed subsidized rail transport for prairie farmers and was an opponent of deregulation. He retired from parliament in 1993.

When Ronald Reagan addressed the Parliament of Canada in 1987, Benjamin heckled him by crying "he's mad!".[1]

Benjamin was of Welsh heritage with his father's family coming to Canada from the Rumney Valley.

Prior to entering politics, Benjamin worked variously as a railway station agent, telegrapher and secretary.

Notes and References

  1. http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-676-3871/politics_economy/presidents/clip7 Presidents