Thomas Douglas

Date of birth

1904

Point of origin

Scotland

Douglas moved with his family to Canada in 1911, settling in Winnipeg.

Ideas & Innovation

black and white photo of many people protesting holding signs and banners.

Tommy Douglas led the implementation of universal health care in Canada with provincial legislation while Premier of Saskatchewan, but the system was controversial when introduced. This is a 1962 protest outside the provincial legislature in Regina, SK.

Bettmann via Getty Images

black and white photo of Tommy Douglas in a theatre with people behind him holding up signs.

Tommy Douglas arrives at a New Democratic Party rally in Hamilton, Ontario, 11 June 1968. Douglas led the NDP from its formation in 1961 until stepping down in 1971.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

This portrait of Tommy Douglas dates from the mid-1930s, when Douglas ended his religious ministry and academics. In 1935, Douglas was elected to Parliament for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, a socialist party.

Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan

Tommy Douglas and a man both wearing suits are shaking hands.

NDP leader Tommy Douglas (left) shakes hands with Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (right) during Canada's first televised leaders' debate, 1968.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Bregg

Thomas Douglas, 1904-1986, Scotland.

Douglas moved with his family to Canada in 1911, settling in Winnipeg. Influenced by his family, health, wartime service, and religious ministry, Douglas was a staunch socialist. As premier of Saskatchewan 1944-1961, he brought in many progressive policies, most famously the Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Act, the precedent for universal health care in Canada.