Tommy Douglas

Thomas Clement Douglas (October 20, 1904 - February 24, 1986) was a Scottish-born Canadian Baptist minister, politician, and premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961. He was a leading figure in the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), a left-wing political party, and as premier formed North America's first socialist government, introducing innovative social reforms such as hospital insurance, the beginning of Canada's medicare program.

Douglas was born in 1904 in Falkirk, Scotland. In 1910, his family emigrated to Canada, where they located in Winnipeg. During WWI, the family returned to Glasgow but came back to Winnipeg in 1920.

As a preacher, Douglas was influenced by the social gospel movement which believed in combining Christian principles with social reform. After graduating from Brandon College in 1930, he won a position as minister at the Calvary Baptist Church in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. With the onset of the Depression Douglas became a social activist in his community, joined the new CCF party, and was elected to the House of Commons in 1935.

Douglas was active in Ottawa, but he maintained an interest in provincial politics and became the leader of the Saskatchewan CCF in 1942. On June 15 1944, he led the CCF to power in the provincial general election, winning 47 of 53 seats.

When the CCF became the New Democratic Party in 1961 defeating Hazen Argue at the first NDP leadership convention became the party's first leader, serving until 1971. While the NDP did better in elections than its predecessor, the CCF the party did not experience the breakthrough it had hoped for. Despite this, Douglas was greatly respected by both party members and Canadians at large. In 1970 Douglas and the NDP took a controversial but principled stand against the implementation of the War Measures Act during the October Crisis and it was largely Douglas' influence that led to the Medicare becoming a national program.

After his resignation in 1971 Douglas kept his seat in the House of Commons until he retired from politics in 1979.

Douglas died of cancer in 1986 at the age of 81.

He is the father of Canadian actress Shirley Douglas, and the grandfather of Kiefer Sutherland.

External link

• Tommy Douglas and his Government 1944-1960