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Les Benjamin

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Les Benjamin
Member of Parliament
In office
1968–1979
Preceded byfirst member
Succeeded byriding dissolved
ConstituencyRegina—Lake Centre
In office
1979–1988
Preceded byfirst member
Succeeded byriding dissolved
ConstituencyRegina West
In office
1988–1993
Preceded byfirst member
Succeeded byJohn Solomon
ConstituencyRegina—Lumsden
Personal details
Born
Leslie Gordon Benjamin

(1925-04-29)April 29, 1925
Medicine Hat, Alberta
DiedJune 16, 2003(2003-06-16) (aged 78)
Regina, Saskatchewan
Political partyNew Democratic Party
SpouseConstance E. Friesen
Residence(s)Regina, Saskatchewan
ProfessionManager, railway station agent, secretary, telegrapher

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.

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