Bennett Campbell

The Honourable W. Bennett Campbell

William Bennett Campbell, PC (born August 27, 1943) is a former politician and premier of Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Born Montague, Prince Edward Island, Campbell was a teacher by profession before entering politics in 1970 and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island as a Liberal candidate. In 1972, he became Minister of Education; Provincial Secretary in 1974; and Minister of Finance in 1976.

When Liberal leader and PEI Premier Alexander B. Campbell (no relation) announced his retirement, W. Bennett Campbell ran and won the Liberal leadership and was sworn in as Premier on September 18, 1978.

His government was defeated in the general election held the next year. He remained party leader and leader of the opposition until he decided to enter federal politics. He won the seat for Cardigan in the Canadian House of Commons through a 1981 by-election following the death of Daniel J. Macdonald. He also immediately took over Macdonald's cabinet portfolio and became Minister of Veterans Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He retained his portfolio when John Turner succeeded Trudeau as Liberal leader and prime minister, but lost his seat to Pat Binns in the 1984 election that brought down the short-lived Turner government.

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Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Daniel J. Macdonald, Liberal	Member of Parliament from Cardigan 1981–1984	Succeeded by Pat Binns, Prog. Cons.
Political offices
Preceded by Alexander Bradshaw Campbell	PEI Liberal Leader 1978–1981	Succeeded by Gilbert Clements
Preceded by Alexander Bradshaw Campbell	Premier of Prince Edward Island 1978–1979	Succeeded by John Angus MacLean
Preceded by J. Angus MacLean	Leader of the Opposition 1979–1981	Succeeded by Gilbert Clements
Preceded by Gilles Lamontagne	Minister of Veterans Affairs 1981–1984	Succeeded by George Hees

Premiers of Prince Edward Island
Colony: Coles \| Holl \| Coles \| E. Palmer \| Gray \| Pope \| Coles \| Hensley \| Haythorne \| Pope \| Haythorne \| Province: Pope \| Owen \| Davies \| Sullivan \| McLeod \| F. Peters \| Warburton \| Farquharson \| A. Peters \| Haszard \| J. Palmer \| Mathieson \| Arsenault \| Bell \| Stewart \| Saunders \| Lea \| Stewart \| MacMillan \| Lea \| T. Campbell \| Jones \| Matheson \| Shaw \| A. Campbell \| B. Campbell \| MacLean \| Lee \| Ghiz \| Callbeck \| Milligan \| Binns