Quick Facts
- Byname of:
- Thomas Clement Douglas
- Born:
- October 20, 1904, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
- Died:
- February 24, 1986, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (aged 81)
- Title / Office:
- parliament (1935-1944), Canada
- Parliament of Canada (1935-1944), Canada
- Political Affiliation:
- New Democratic Party
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Douglas, Tommy
Tommy Douglas, c. 1942–48.
Tommy Douglas
Canadian politician
Also known as: Thomas Clement Douglas
Tommy Douglas (born October 20, 1904, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland—died February 24, 1986, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) was a Scottish-born Canadian politician. His family immigrated to Winnipeg in 1919. An ordained minister, he became active in the socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, and he served in the Canadian Parliament (1935–44). As premier of Saskatchewan (1944–61), he led Canada’s first socialist government. He established a system of state-run health care in the province, the first such system in the nation; for this he is considered the father of socialized medicine in Canada. He resigned in 1961 to become leader of the New Democratic Party, a post he held until 1971.
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