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| CATEGORIES ABOUT BYRON INGEMAR JOHNSON | |
| british columbia premiers | |
| canadians of icelandic descent | |
| members of the united church of canada | |
| 1890 births | |
| 1964 deaths | |
The Honourable Byron Ingemar Johnson ( December 10 , 1890 - January 12 , 1964 ) served as the 24th Premier of the Province of British Columbia , Canada , from 1947 to 1952 . To his contemporaries he was often referred to by his nickname, "Boss" Johnson, which he acquired because of his "get things done" attitude and methods. Early Years Johnson was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia . After overseas service in World War I , he and his brothers opened a building supplies business in Victoria, which proved to be successful. Johnson was first elected as one of four Members Of The Legislative Assembly from Victoria City to the BC Legislature as a Liberal in the 1933 Election . He served four years in the Caucus of Premier Duff Pattullo before being defeated in the 1937 Election . Johnson returned to his business, and in World War II was put in charge of constructing Royal Canadian Air Force facilities throughout the province. In the 1945 Election , he returned to the legislature, this time as the member for New Westminster , becoming a Cabinet minister in the Coalition Government formed by the Liberal and Conservative parties, and led by Premier John Hart . Following Hart's resignation in 1947 , Johnson succeeded him as Liberal leader and Premier. Johnson as Premier Johnson's government introduced compulsory Health Insurance -- and to pay for it -- a 3% provincial Sales Tax . It expanded the Highway System , extended the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, and negotiated the Alcan Agreement, which facilitated construction of the Kenny Dam , the first major Hydroelectric project in the province. The government also coped with the devestating 1948 flooding of the Fraser River , declaring a State Of Emergency and beginning a programme of Diking the river's banks through the Fraser Valley . Johnson is also noted for appointing Nancy Hodges as the first female Speaker in the British Commonwealth . Johnson's government won a landslide victory in the 1949 Election -- at 61% the greatest percentage of the popular vote in BC history. After the Conservatives withdrew from the coalition in 1951 , Johnson's government collapsed. In the subsequent 1952 Election , the Liberals were defeated by W.A.C. Bennett 's Social Credit Party , and Johnson lost his own seat. Johnson returned to private life, and died in Victoria in 1964, aged 73 years. He is interred in the city's Ross Bay Cemetery . EXTERNAL LINK
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