future Finance Minister, later said, "He was in finance at a critical time, he revolutionized the system. He launched a revolution. It was a revolution, a necessary step and a demanding task. What he did was economically justified. The basic tax structure that he put in place is still alive. No one has really touched it since." Impact He was also instrumental in rolling out a national medical care plan and supplementary old age pensions and played a key role in federal-provincial relations. Benson wore a pair of new shoes on budget day in 1968, although he said, "He didn't buy them just for the budget." The following year he did not wear new shoes when delivering the budget, saying jokingly that he couldn't afford them, and in 1970 proudly displayed his worn soles on budget day. He later served as Minister of National Defence from January to August 1972, when he retired from politics, choosing not to run in the 1972 election. Later life and death Benson served as President of the Canadian Transport Commission from 1972 to 1982, and as Canadian Ambassador to Ireland from 1982 to 1985. He died on September 2, 2011 at the age of 88. Honours Benson was conferred honorary degrees as a Doctor of Laws from: Royal Military College of Canada in 1973 Queen's University in 2008 Electoral record Kingston Kingston and the Islands Further reading References External links 1923 births 2011 deaths Canadian Ministers of Finance Defence ministers of Canada Canadian Protestants Liberal Party of Canada MPs Members of the 19th Canadian Ministry Members of the 20th Canadian Ministry Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery personnel Members of the United Church of Canada People from Kingston, Ontario Queen's University at Kingston alumni Queen's University at Kingston faculty People from Cobourg Ambassadors of Canada to Ireland Canadian Army personnel of World War II Canadian Army soldiers