2 013 MEDICARE ANNIVERSARY CALENDAR
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Swift Current Health Region No. 1 was one of the most important steps on the road to universal medicare in Canada. Organized through grassroots support in the early 1940s, the health region subsidized residents of southwest Saskatchewan’s doctors’ bills and hospital costs through local personal and property taxes. The tremendous success of the health region demonstrated to Saskatchewan residents and the rest of Canada that a publically-funded system could provide quality, universal health coverage for all.
Benefit guide for Health Region No.1 residents.
January
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Saturday
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New Year’s Day
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13
Dr. R.W. Kirby appointed director of Prince Albert Sanatorium for tuberculosis treatment 1930
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Commission responsible for Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Act appointed 1962
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Sask. Health Survey Committee encourages Saskatchewan to start “comprehensive health insurance program.” 1949
Swift Current Health region provides free hospital, dental and medical care 1946
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Premier Douglas introduces the province’s first health card after the Hospital Services Plan was enacted in 1946.
After winning its first majority government in 1944, Premier and Health Minister Tommy Douglas would preside over the implementation of the Health Services Act, the Hospital Services Plan, the Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service and numerous other healthcare reforms in the province.
Saskatchewan Archives Board R-A 3256
he Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) campaigned on a variety of social reform issues throughout the 1944 provincial election. One of the key issues was the establishment and improvement of health care services for all Saskatchewan residents.
February
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3 Keith Malcolm makes first flight of the Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service 1946
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North Battleford opens Saskatchewan’s first institution for mentally ill 1914
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Saskatchewan Anti-Tuberculosis League established 1911
24 Former Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas passes away 1986
Family Day
Saskatchewan has been the home of many firsts in healthcare service delivery. A pioneer in the use of aircraft to ensure access to medical services for all citizens regardless of location, the Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service was created in 1946. Saskatchewan Air Ambulance in operation in the summer of 1946. Saskatchewan Archives Board RA-3033-2
Saskatchewan became the first province in Canada to provide free, universal treatment for tuberculosis in January of 1928. Through a dedicated tuberculosis prevention and treatment campaign that travelled throughout the province, Saskatchewan recorded the lowest TB mortality rate in the country between 1921 to 1940. Saskatchewan Anti-Tuberculosis League uses travelling van with portable x-ray equipment to screen for TB – 1949. Saskatchewan Archives Board R-A 2996
March
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2 First meeting of Health Services Act Advisory Committee 1945
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Hospital Services Plan legislation introduced in the Saskatchewan legislature 1946
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Easter Sunday
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Dr. Harold Johns becomes Saskatchewan’s first radiation physicist for cancer treatment 1945
Good Friday
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March 29 Saskatchewan treats its first cancer patient with the betatron unit in Saskatoon 1949
A cancer patient is treated using the betatron at the Saskatoon University Hospital in 1948. Saskatchewan Archives Board R-A 5236-1
Saskatchewan has also been on the cutting edge of employing new technologies in its healthcare system, such as initiating the world’s first, concentrated, clinical use of the betatron for cancer treatment in March of 1949.
Technicians maintain new IBM computers used to catalogue health records in 1956. Saskatchewan Archives Board R-A10753-3
April
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Royal Assent provided to “A Bill Respecting Health Insurance” 1944
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Saturday
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Royal Assent granted to Hospital Services Plan 1946
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Former Saskatchewan Premier Woodrow Lloyd passes away 1972
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Ross Thatcher’s Liberal Party defeats the CCF in Saskatchewan general election 1964
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The 1960 provincial election was dubbed “the medicare election” in Saskatchewan as victory for the CCF would be interpreted as a clear mandate for the government’s proposed “Medical Care Insurance Plan.” After re-election, Premier Douglas stated in the legislature: “I believe Mr. Speaker, that if this medical care insurance program is successful … it will prove to be the forerunner of a national medical care insurance plan. It will become the nucleus around which Canada will ultimately build a comprehensive health insurance program which will cover all health services – not just hospital and medical care – but eventually dental care, optometric care, drugs and all the other health services which people require.”
Premier Douglas, Alex Jupp and Dr. E.W. Barootes address questions during a 1960 televised panel discussion on Saskatchewan’s pending Medical Care Insurance Act.” Saskatchewan Archives Board R-B 2871-1
May
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CCF Health Minister, Walter Erb, defects to Liberal Party to oppose Medicare 1962
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British newspapers carry first ad requesting doctors to work during Saskatchewan Doctor’s Strike 1962
Saskatoon Medical College officially opened 1950
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14 University Hospital in Saskatoon officially opens 1955
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Tommy Douglas retires from politics after 44 years of public service 1979
Victoria Day
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In the run-up to the implementation of the government’s Medicare Insurance Act in 1962, many Saskatchewan doctors threatened to withdraw their services for fear of a government “take-over” of healthcare. In June, British doctors began signing temporary contracts to work if the strike took place.
“Better Dead than Red!” Saskatchewan Liberal leader Ross Thatcher vehemently opposed the CCF’s medicare plan.
June
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Allan Blakeney’s NDP wins majority government in Saskatchewan election 1971
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Saskatchewan Hospital Association meets with government to try and prevent Doctor’s Strike 1962
CCF wins its first majority government in Saskatchewan 1944
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Airlift to transport British doctors to Saskatchewan for the Doctor’s Strike is organized 1962
One millionth person tested through traveling TB clinics 1949
W
ith the pending strike, the Medical Care Insurance Commission responsible for the administration of the Act arranged to airlift 100 doctors from other countries to fill the expected shortage. The government was also prepared to transport patients out-ofprovince for treatment if necessary.
The doctor’s strike began at 12:01 am on July 1, 1962 – the day the Medical Insurance Act was slated to be imple mented. Several individuals were instru mental in ending the strike, including Premier Woodrow Lloyd, Health Minister Alan Blakeney and Lord Taylor, a British doctor who had helped establish
Great Britain’s National Health System. Mr. Blakeney later called the summer of 1962, “the greatest social conflict I was involved in.” Rally in opposition to Medicare at the Saskatchewan Legislature July 11, 1962. Saskatchewan Archives Board R-A 12109-3
July
Sunday
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July 1
Tuesday
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Federal government enacts National Medicare Act, 1968 Doctor’s Strike begins in Saskatchewan, 1962
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3 Saskatoon Community Clinic officially opens 1962
Canada Day
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Premier Lloyd makes request to Lord Taylor to assist with the Doctor’s Strike 1962
Tommy Douglas’ CCF government sworn in to Saskatchewan Legislature 1944
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Lord Taylor travels from England to Saskatchewan to help end Doctor’s Strike 1962
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22 Saskatchewan Anti-Tuberculosis Commission is formed 1921
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First National Convention of the CCF Party 1933
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Saskatchewan Doctor’s Strike ends 1962
30 CCF Party is established at Calgary Convention 1932
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Lord Stephen Taylor
“After it was over, Britain’s Lord Taylor, a bluff Labor Party peer and an architect of the British National Health Service, last week gave Saskatchewan a doctor’s order. “This province has had a major operation,” said he. “I prescribe for it absolute rest.” The major operation was the settlement of the bitter, 22-day strike of Saskatchewan’s doctors, who closed their offices rather than practice under the Socialist government’s new compulsory medical insurance scheme.” – From the August 3rd 1962 edition of Time Magazine. Saskatchewan Premiers Tommy Douglas and Woodrow Lloyd
August
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Saskatchewan Day
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Premier Douglas lays cornerstone for new medical college in Saskatoon 1946
In the early summer of 1962, Medicare and CCF supporters formed “Community Health Associations” and planned to open community health clinics to help ensure that Saskatchewan residents received adequate health care if the province’s doctors acted on their threat to strike. The first community clinics opened in Prince Albert and Saskatoon on July 1st, the day the Medical Care Insurance Act was implemented.
Dr. Orville Hjertaas officially opening the Prince Albert Community Clinic.
Saskatchewan Archives Board S-B7382
September
Sunday
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1 Dr. Fredrick Mott named Chairman of Health Services Planning Commission 1946
Tuesday
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Labour Day
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Premier Douglas lays cornerstone for University Hospital in Saskatoon 1952
Swift Current region discusses establishment of first health district 1945
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Thompson Committee provides government with interim report on recommendations for Medical Care 1961
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In 1961, Emmett Hall was appointed by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker to chair a Royal Commission on Health Services, whose task was “to study the existing and projected health needs and health resources of Canada; and to study methods of ensuring the highest standards of health care for all citizens of Canada.” Hall’s report would recommend the implementation of a National Health Program for all Canadians. Chief Justice Emmett Hall
October
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Sigerist Commission report presented to Premier Douglas 1944
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19 First Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan CCF government held 1944
Thanksgiving Day
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26 First person treated with cobalt-60 radiation passes away, 50 years after treatment 1998
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31 Medical Care Insurance Act announced by Saskatchewan CCF government 1961
Former Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow
The report of the Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada – also known as the Romanow Report – recommended sweeping changes to ensure the long-term sustainability of Canada’s health care system. Among the reforms recommended by the report was a commitment to the principles of public administration, universality and accessibility. Expanding insured health services beyond hospital and physician services to include targeted home care services, a national pharmacare plan, increased focus on preventative care and a stable health transfer from the federal government to the provinces.
November
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Saskatchewan treats the world’s first cancer patient using calibrated cobalt-60 radiation 1951
Remembrance Day
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Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Act receives Royal Assent 1961
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Southwest Saskatchewan residents vote 71% in favour of establishing health region 1945
Romanow Report, Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada is released 2002
“Seventy years ago we pledged to provide health care for every man, woman and child, regardless of race, colour or financial status … and by God we’re going to do it!” Thomas Clement “Tommy” Douglas, (20 October 1904 – 24 February 1986)
December
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Third reading of the Medical Care Act is approved by the House of Commons 1966
Thursday
Order-in-council passed establishing first health region in Saskatchewan – Swift Current Health Region No. 1 1945
National Medicare Insurance passed by the House of Commons 1966
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Christmas Day
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Boxing Day
January 2014
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