William Moore Benidickson

William Moore "Bill" Benidickson, PC , BA , LL.B (April 8 1911-April 1 1985) was a Canadian politician. He was the Liberal-Labour Member of Parliament for Kenora—Rainy River for over twenty years.

Born in Manitoba of Icelandic stock, Benidickson served in World War II as a Wing-Commander in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Following the war, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1945 federal election. Due to the politics of Kenora—Rainy River which had a history electing Independent Labour politicians and where the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation posed a serious threat, the Liberals worked with the Communist Party of Canada to run Liberal-Labour candidates in federal and provincial elections. Accordingly, Benidickson ran and was elected as a "Liberal-Labour" MP for most of his parliamentary career though he always sat with the Liberal caucus and was considered a Liberal for all intents and purposes.

Benidickson served as parliamentary assistant to Finance minister Douglas Abbott before serving the same function to the Minister of Transport through the 1950s.

In 1963, Benidickson joined the Cabinet of Lester Pearson as Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys. Pearson appointed him to the Canadian Senate in 1965 where he sat as a straight Liberal until his death in 1985.

Benidickson's wife, Agnes was a member of Winnipeg's prominent Richardson family and later served as Chancellor of Queen's University.

External links

* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/bio.asp?Language=E&query=585&s=M Federal Political Biography from the Library of Parliament]
* [http://www.vindicator.ca/In_Memorys_Eye/4_Honourable_Members_2.asp Some Honourable Members] biographical sketches of several MPs, including Benedickson.