Tommy Douglas (1904-1986)
was voted "The Greatest Canadian" of all time
in a nationally televised contest
organized by
the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
in 2004.
A Scottish-born Baptist minister,
he was a democratic socialist politician
highly respected for his principled stands,
his wit and skill as an orator.
He never served as Canada
but his ideas strongly influenced federal legislation
in the 1960s and 70s.
Tommy Douglas served
as premier of Saskatchewan
leading the first democratic socialist government
in North America .
During those years,
to offer free hospital care to all citizens,
followed by universal health care in 1962.
His government also passed the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights,
legislation that broke new ground
in protecting fundamental freedoms and equality rights.
(This bill preceded the United Nations’
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
by 18 months).
Douglas headed Canada
from 1961-1971,
a “third party” which has never formed a majority
in Canada
But the 1960s saw three minority governments
led for Progressive Conservatives and Liberals.
In this setting
(where collaboration with “third parties”
was required to govern),
the NDP had considerable influence on legislation,
from energy to industry to health care.
Tommy Douglas was the grandfather of actor Kiefer Sutherland.
Read more about Tommy Douglas here.
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