Vaughn Palmer: Bob Williams was his own man. In politics at the time, doing so was not always easy.

Victoria — New Democratsin their history Enter another chapter of, along with memoirs from many politicians, planners, and survivors of its history.

Bob Williams, 89, was born almost at the same time as CCF, the Left Party that became the modern NDP.

He was the first NDP government minister in British Columbia in the 1970s.

He has also served as a city planner (Delta), a city council member (Vancouver), a member of the Crown Corporations of Canada (ICBC) credit union board (Vancity Savings), and a private sector entrepreneur (Railway Club). rice field.

Along the way, Williams left fingerprints on the Agricultural Land Reserve, Robson Square, Whistler, Sally Central, and British Columbia. Housing, sea bass, and ... well, I was able to write a book and he finally did it.

Use of Powerwell: The Making of Bob Williams and British Columbia was published last month by the Gibsons-based Knightwood Edition.

The title is David Mitchell's classic W. A. C. Is slightly reflected. The rise of Bennett and British Columbia.

Bennett was in government for 20 years as prime minister, and Williams was less than four years as minister.

However, both envisioned the role of government activists, albeit from various aspects of the left- and right-wing political divisions.

Williams was one of the most polarized people in British Columbia. .. Politics from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Ask Ben Isit, Victoria City Council member, and Thomas Bevan, a college-trained city planner like Williams himself, as an editorial assistant for memoirs.

"His tendency to be a straight shooter, as he explains, would never have made him more enemy than his friends," they said in the introduction. Admits in.

Williams' overwhelming management style would not have lasted long in today's protected workplace.

Just ask himself: "I was told I wasn't willing to suffer from a fool, and I didn't."

Of his public policy The vision was based on the work of the radical American economist Henry George, who influenced the progressive movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries .

George argued that the economic value of land and resources is treated as a common property of society and is subject to a single tax to achieve a more productive and just society.

Williams' dedication to "One Tax George" has made him branded as a Communist in some areas.

He has established his position as a "socialist who believes in free enterprise."

This book tells the mayor of Russia during the post-communist era how he explained how to set up ownership registration for private land in BC. Evaluation model.

All sections of the book will be passed B. C. To discuss the development of land and resources not only in the past but also in the future.

Classic Williams. A few years ago, I invited him to appear on an interview show I hosted on a cable channel. He agreed to provide it, not just to look back.

Then he attacked me with notes and research papers about forestry in BC. It can be reformed through community management, co-operatives and value-added development.

This book has a political score, especially with Dave Barrett.

During Barrett's term as Prime Minister from 1972 to 1975, the two were close.

When Barrett lost his seat in the 1975 election, Williams resigned and allowed Barrett to return home in the by-elections.

In return, Williams says Barrett promised to ensure that veteran MLA Alex MacDonald would retire in favor of young Williams in the next election.

However, when the 1979 election took place, Barrett supported McDonald's and Williams lost the nomination race.

"Dave never responded to our explicit agreement," says Williams, who did not return to Congress until Barrett himself retired in 1984.

This book is also very personal.

Williams was years away from his father, who was born. He talks about the development of the working class in inspiring details.

He also talks about how he didn't admit to being gay "when I was young, before my marriage and political career."

Then, how was he used to be gay in a way that ended his elected politician career? I will talk about it.

One day in the spring of 1991, Williams was buying coffee at a kiosk outside Congress when he was contacted by the then-appointed Social Credit Government.

"He asked me a question with double meaning," says Williams. After that, the companions laughed and asked questions.

"I recognized the keyword. In fact," I know you are gay. "

How Williams knew about him I didn't know if to use it. He has seen what happened to others.

He resigned from the seat and praised the parliamentary floor from veteran Socred Grace McCarthy.

"I think the creativity when Bob Williams was a member of the government was, in many ways, a great service for our state," McCarthy said.

"I also want to say that as a member of the opposition, he kept the government side on his toes. I hope he will be well in the next few years.

Williams went on to become a supervisor of the Royal Enterprises under the NDP before moving to Van City, all told in his provocative style in the book.

Almost every page has a discussion: Beware of snowflakes.

But it was refreshing to confront the opinions of the last person to speak and politicians inspired by something other than recent polls.

vpalmer @ postmedia. com

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