1998 INDUCTEE The Honourable Thomas Douglas Health Policy, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers

The Honourable Thomas Douglas posthumously inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Hull, Québec

Served as leader of the NPD until his resignation in 1971

He remained as the NDP’s Energy Critic until his retirement from politics in 1979.

National Medicare was introduced

Today, Canada’s program universal medical insurance is administered through the Canada Health Act, a piece of legislation that still includes the principles for which Tommy Douglas advocated: public administration, accessibility, universality, and comprehensiveness.

The Canada Medicare Act was introduced in the House of Commons

Tommy Douglas and the NDP played a crucial role in supporting the passage of Canada’s national system of medical insurance.

Aware of the potentially devastating impact of medical costs of Saskatchewan families, Tommy Douglas was not satisfied with a hospital insurance plan

In 1961, his government passed the Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Act. A pioneer again, the Saskatchewan plan was the first comprehensive health insurance plan in Canada.

Became leader of the federal New Democratic Party

His vision for medical care for all was not limited to the citizens of Saskatchewan. His move back into federal politics reflected a strong desire to spread universal health care across the country.

Saskatchewan introduced a hospital insurance plan

The first hospital insurance plan in Canada, it soon covered 810,000 people. In time, the plan became a model for federal government’s national program of hospital insurance. Ottawa’s Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act was passed in 1957.

Resigned his seat in the federal legislature

Running in the Saskatchewan provincial election that same year as the leader of the CCF, he led the party to a decisive victory. Upon election, Tommy Douglas gave himself the health portfolio. He remained premier of the province for the next 17 years.

Won his first federal election as a Canadian Commonwealth Federation (CCF) Candidate

It has been suggested that one of his keys to election success was his ability to make people laugh. Despite being new to politics, Tommy Douglas gave sixty speeches in his first session of parliament.

Earned his BA at Brandon College

After becoming disillusioned with the study of sociology in the United States, Douglas returned to Canada and completed an MA at McMaster University.

A medical emergency as a child inspired Tommy Douglas’s vision of Medicare

When Douglas badly injured his leg and his family could not afford care, Dr. R. J. Smith offered the family a deal; he would operate on the leg free of cost if his medical students can watch the procedure. This experience informed Douglas’ beliefs that medical care is a basic human right deserved by all Canadians.