W. A. C. Bennett ministry

{{Short description|Cabinet of British Columbia, 1952–1972}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}

{{more footnotes needed|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox government cabinet

|cabinet_name = W.A.C. Bennett ministry

|cabinet_type = ministry

|cabinet_number = 25th

|jurisdiction = British Columbia

|flag = Flag of British Columbia.svg

|flag_border = true

|incumbent =

|image =

|caption =

|date_formed = {{Start date|1952|08|01}}

|date_dissolved = {{End date|1972|09|15}}

|government_head_title = Premier

|government_head = W. A. C. Bennett

|government_head_history =

|state_head_title = Monarch

|state_head = Elizabeth II

|represented_by_title = Lieutenant Governor

|represented_by = {{plainlist|

• Clarence Wallace (1952–1955)
• Frank Mackenzie Ross (1955–1960)
• George Pearkes (1960–1968)
• John Robert Nicholson (1968–1972)

}}

|members_number =

|former_members_number =

|total_number =

|political_party = Social Credit

|opposition_cabinet=

|opposition_party={{plainlist|

• Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (1952–1961)
• New Democratic Party (1961–1972)}}

|opposition_leader = {{plainlist|

• Harold Winch (1952–1953)
• Arnold Webster (1953–1956)
• Robert Strachan (1956–1969)
• Dave Barrett (1970–1972)

}}

|election = 1952, 1953, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1969

|last_election = 1972

|legislature_term = {{plainlist|* 23rd Parliament of British Columbia

• 24th Parliament of British Columbia
• 25th Parliament of British Columbia
• 26th Parliament of British Columbia
• 27th Parliament of British Columbia
• 28th Parliament of British Columbia
• 29th Parliament of British Columbia}}

|legislature_status = {{plainlist|

• Minority (1952–1953)
• Majority (1953–1972)}}

|budget=

|advice_and_consent1=

|advice_and_consent2=

|incoming_formation =

|outgoing_formation =

|predecessor = Boss Johnson ministry

|successor = Barrett ministry}}

The W.{{nbsp}}A.{{nbsp}}C. Bennett ministry was the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that governed British Columbia from August 1, 1952, to September 15, 1972. It was led by W. A. C. Bennett, the 25th premier of British Columbia, and consisted of members of the Social Credit Party.

The W.{{nbsp}}A.{{nbsp}}C. Bennett ministry was established after the 1952 British Columbia general election when Premier Boss Johnson was defeated in the general election and, following the surprise win of the leaderless Social Credit Party, W.{{nbsp}}A.{{nbsp}}C. Bennett was elected as party leader and premier-designate shortly after the general election. The cabinet governed through the 29th Parliament of British Columbia, until the Social Credit Party was defeated in the 1972 British Columbia general election.{{Cite web |title=W.A.C. Barrett {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/william-andrew-cecil-bennett |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}} It was succeeded by the Barrett ministry.{{Cite web |title=David Barrett {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-barrett |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}} This ministry is also the cabinet with the longest duration of governance in the province's history.