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Edgar John Benson, PC , FCA , B.Comm (born May 28 1923 ) is a retired Canadian politician and businessman. Benson was a Chartered Accountant by profession, and co-owner of a local radio station. He was first elected to the Canadian House Of Commons in the 1962 General Election as the Liberal Member Of Parliament (MP) for Kingston, Ontario . He entered the Cabinet of Prime Minister Lester Pearson in 1964 as Minister Of National Revenue , and served concurrently, from 1966 to 1968 , as President Of The Treasury Board . Benson was Minister Of Finance under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau from 1968 to 1972 . He was the last finance minister in over twenty years to introduce a balanced Budget . His 1969 budget introduce a Capital Gains Tax that was severely criticized by the business community, particularly Israel Asper who wrote a book called ''The Benson Iceberg'' condemning the measure. In his final budget he introduced a Tax Deduction for Child Care as a means of helping mothers enter the Workforce . He served as Minister Of National Defence from January to August 1972 , when he retired from politics, choosing not to run in the 1972 Election . EXTERNAL LINKS
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