The 1960 Election


Saskatchewan voters went to the polls in June of 1960. The main issue of the campaign was the pre-paid, universal, compulsory medical-care plan promised by the government. Premier Douglas asked the electorate for a strong mandate. Of the three opposition parties only the Socreds completely opposed Medicare. Criticism from the Liberals and Conservatives focused on the details and the timing of implementation.

The most vocal opposition came from the province’s doctors, represented by the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Douglas used the physicians' lack of political experience and division in their ranks to portray himself and the province as underdogs. The doctors’ campaign was badly handled.

 

   
 
 
 


Public relations help from Ontario and the United States was viewed as outside interference. Pamphlets such as “Political Medicine is Bad Medicine,” “Women and their Personal Doctor” and “The Doctor and State Medicine” were viewed as a combination of fear-mongering and bad taste.

When the doctors announced that over 95% of the non-salaried physicians had signed a pledge “not to enter into contracts or agreements to work under, or participate in, any province-wide, compulsory, government controlled medical programme,” Douglas described their campaign as “scurrilous, despicable” and called Saskatchewan the “beachhead” in the battle for socialized medicine. The government was returned with a large majority.

 


 

 

 


Let There Be No
Blackout of Health
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Saturday Night
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