A much-admired political figure, Tommy Douglas laid the foundations for a national medicare program
March 7, 2019 Regina, Saskatchewan Parks Canada Agency
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas is an icon associated with the implementation of Canada-wide public health care, a program that remains deeply tied to Canadian identity and values to this day.
Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Regina—Wascana, commemorated the national historic significance of Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas with a plaque unveiling ceremony. The announcement was made on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna.
A Baptist pastor, fiery orator, and human rights activist, Tommy Douglas was drawn to political life by the human struggles he witnessed in Saskatchewan during the 1930s. Believing that political action was the best way to improve the lives of Canadians, Douglas helped found and led the first social democratic government in North America, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF).
Serving five terms as the Premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961, his government created an ambitious and innovative program of social reform that included the introduction of labour and human rights codes, and a new approach to relations between Indigenous Peoples and government. Douglas was also an important influence on the development of medicare in Canada, building on the Saskatchewan tradition of co-operative values to implement the first publicly funded, universally accessible hospital insurance plan in 1947.
In 1961, Douglas returned to federal politics as leader of the newly-created New Democratic Party (NDP), an alliance between the CCF and the Canadian Labour Congress. During his 10-years as leader of the NDP, he wielded significant influence while in a minority government setting, pushing for the adoption of national social welfare programs, such as medicare and old age pensions, as well as advocating for human rights.
The Government of Canada is committed to connecting Canadians to the significant people, places, and events that contributed to our country's diverse heritage. The commemoration process is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,000 designations have been made.
