Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Government & Politics Tommy Douglas Tommy Douglas Tommy Douglas is one of the most successful politicians Canadians have ever seen. He implemented many social policies and programs in Saskatchewan that were later adopted throughout Canada. Most of his programs continue today and are an integral part of Canadian society. His greatest achievement was his implementation of Medicare in Saskatchewan. Douglas never intended to be a politician but his concern for people Thomas Douglas was born in Falkirk, Scotland on October 20, 1904. Tommy moved to Winnipeg in 1911 along with his mother and sister to meet his father who had migrated one year earlier. (1Thomas H Mcleod and Ian Mcleod, Tommy Douglas The Road to Jerusalem, (Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1987) 6.) Shortly after arriving, Tommy was diagnosed with osteomyelitis a bone infection. His family could not afford quick or top rate medical care. As a result Tommy almost lost his leg. This could be one reason Douglas desired to have Medicare in Canada. (2Wong, Kevin. “Tommy Douglas a Remarkable Canadian” 4pp. Online. Internet. 9 Oct. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/business/cupe1975/burs5.html) Douglas entered Brandon College in 1924 to become a minister. Tommy Douglas along with his new wife moved to Weyburn in 1929 where he became minister of Calvary Baptist Church. Douglas was popular at his new church because of his energy and enthusiasm. He was disturbed by the poverty and unemployment that plagued his congregation. This lead Tommy to advocate on behalf of the less fortunate. His concerns soon led him to become politically active. (3T. Mcleod and I. Mcleod 19). In 1932, he helped form the Independent Labor Party in Weyburn and was the groups first president. He ran for government provincially in 1934 but lost. (4Fisher, Wayne.“Tommy Douglas Making Canada Better!” 4pp. Online. Internet. 9 Oct. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/business/cupe1975/burs7.html) In July of 1932, the socialist movements of the four western provinces joined to form a national party called the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). (5Wong 1). In 1935 Douglas ran federally for the CCF and won a seat representing the Weyburn district. The CCF won only 5 seats in the Federal election in 1935. Douglas made a name for himself in the House of Commons as an excellent speaker. He found changes came slowly at the federal level of government. He went on to serve two terms in In 1942, while still sitting as an Member of Parliament Tommy Douglas became the leader of the Saskatchewan CCF party. The CCF party won the provincial election in 1944. Douglas became the first leader of a socialist government in North America. Tommy vowed to spend 70% of government money on social programs and his slogan was “Humanity First”. Tommy Douglas and the CCF were in power in Saskatchewan for 17 years. During this time Douglas held true to his word and implemented countless social policies and changes. Douglas gave bargaining powers to unions. The CCF paid off Saskatchewan’s debt, paved roads, and provided electricity and sewage. The Crown corporations were established during Douglas’s reign. The CCF government provided the University of Saskatchewan with a medical school and made school units larger. The most significant achievement Tommy Douglas made in his time in government was the establishment of universally available tax funded Medicare. (7Vella, Vanessa. “Tommy Douglas - The Father of Medicare” 3pp. Online. Internet. 9 Oct. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.savemedicare.com/y01ma00b.htm) Douglas faced resistance from doctors who did not want Medicare and who also staged a strike. He was able to implement healthcare in 1961 in Saskatchewan. His model for healthcare was later implemented in every province in Canada. (8T. Mcleod and I. Mcleod 196). In 1961, Douglas left provincial politics once again. He became the first leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP). The NDP was formed from the CCF and labor unions coming together. (9Wong 3). He served as an MP for the NDP from 1962 to 1976 when he retired. He was never able to achieve great success in federal politics. After his retirement, he continued to serve as an advocate for socialism. Tommy Douglas died on February 24, 1986 of cancer. (10Wong 4). Tommy Douglas was a man with ideals who stuck to them. He fought for fair and reasonable treatment of all Canadians. He believed that every Canadian deserved health care, whether or not they could pay for it. He left a legacy of social programs that largely factor into Canada ranking as the number one country in the world by the United Nations. As a nation we must not forget the contributions Tommy Douglas made to our country. Bibliography: Bibliography Fisher, Wayne. “Tommy Douglas Making Canada Better” Online. Internet. 9 Oct. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/business/cupe1975/burs7.html Mcleod, Thomas H., and Mcleod, Ian. Tommy Douglas The Road to Jerusalem, Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1987. Vella, Vanessa. “Tommy Douglas - The Father of Medicare” 3pp. Online. Internet. 9 Oct. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.savemedicare.com/y01ma00b.htm Wong, Kevin. “Tommy Douglas a Remarkable Canadian” 4pp. Online. Internet. 9 Oct. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/business/cupe1975 /burs5.html Word Count: 764
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