Tommy Douglas

Tommy Douglas was a Canadian politician and social reformer best known as the father of universal healthcare in Canada. Though originally trained as a Baptist minister, he entered politics with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), a socialist-leaning party advocating for workers’ rights and social justice. In 1944, he became Premier of Saskatchewan, leading the first democratic socialist government in North America.

In 1961, Douglas left provincial politics to take the helm as leader of the newly formed federal New Democratic Party (NDP), where he continued advocating for social welfare programs. Most importantly, his efforts culminated in the passing of the Canada Medical Care Act in 1966, which established universal healthcare nationwide. Evidently, Douglas’ fierce leadership and unwavering commitment to improving the well-being of all citizens were instrumental in making healthcare a public right rather than a privilege.

However, it is clear that not everyone benefits from the passing of Canadian Medicare, especially given the inequities in access continued to lead to worse outcomes for Indigenous groups. Universal health care in Canada is a point of pride for its citizens, yet the universality of the system continues to be a dream that has never been fully realized. It will only truly be universal when all people have equitable access to care.