CCF premier changed face of Canada
Acclaimed in some circles as the greatest Canadian in the nation’s history, there’s no doubt former Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas left an indelible mark not only on the province, but on the entire country.
Born in 1904 in Scotland, he came to Canada in 1910 with his family, where they lived until the First World War. They returned to Canada in 1918 and lived in Winnipeg. It was here that Douglas saw the Winnipeg General Strike. Sitting on a rooftop, he saw police charging strikers with clubs and guns and the shooting of one worker. The incident would have a deep impact on Douglas, giving him a commitment to protecting fundamental freedoms.
First elected to the House of Commons in 1935, he would remain as an MP until 1944, despite also being elected leader of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1942. In 1944, he led the provincial party to power with 47 of 53 seats in the election. During his time as premier he would create Canada’s first publicly owned automotive insurance service, pass the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights, provide the first free hospital care to all citizens in North American history, create several Crown corporations, and become the first head of any government in Canada to call for a constitutional bill of rights.
Douglas would serve as premier until 1961. In 1962, he was elected back into the House of Commons and remained there until 1979.
In 1981, he was invested into the Order of Canada, and became a member of Canada’s Privy Council in 1984. He died in 1986 in Ottawa.
As we celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, the Leader-Post and StarPhoenix are telling the stories of 150 Saskatchewan people who helped shape the nation. Send your feedback to sask150@postmedia.com.