While Tommy Douglas was named the greatest Canadian in a national contest in 2004, efforts are now underway to have the so-called “Father of Medicare” enshrined on the $5 bill.
The Bank of Canada recently announced it was holding a contest to find a new image for the blue-coloured piece of money; Sir Wilfred Laurier is the current face on the bill. Douglas is one of more than 300 Canadians who has been submitted for consideration.
To ensure Douglas is the winner, Robin Murray and Rob Woznow, from Powell River, British Columbia, have started a campaign to encourage Canadians to vote for the former Saskatchewan premier and Member of Parliament. They started a website — www.tommydouglasfornewcanadianfivedollarbill.ca — and also a Facebook page.
The two men were talking last summer about the many Canadians who have done interesting things for the country, Murray explained by phone. However, their conversation kept coming back to Douglas and his accomplishments, especially with Medicare, along with just how progressive he was for his time.
Among other things, he helped advanced social democracy, he introduced a bill of rights in Saskatchewan, and he brought electricity, water and sewer to many parts of the province. These were some things that impressed Murray and Woznow.
“He was (simply) honest and cared about people,” added Murray, originally from Ogema, Sask.
A few weeks after their conversation, Woznow suggested they should attempt to have Douglas put on a Canadian bill. They then looked at what the process had been when the $10 bill was changed. Much to their delight, in January the Bank of Canada announced a new process would take place to change the $5 bill. They immediately put together a website and social media page.
The Saskatchewan government introduced medicare for everyone in 1962, with the federal government following suite in 1966. On their website, Woznow and Murray point out Douglas’ belief in the importance of universal medical care has saved millions of Canadians from having to choose between their homes and their life.
Right now the Democrats in the United States are attempting to choose who will represent them in the November presidential election, Murray said during the phone call. Candidate Bernie Sanders is “trying to drag the Americans into the 20th century” with medicare for everyone.
“Watching him give his speeches on medicare for all and caring for people, it just kind of reminds me of the speeches Tommy Douglas used to do,” Murray continued, “to try to make life better for everyday Canadians.”
The crusade to have Douglas enshrined on the $5 bill is not necessarily a way to contrast the Canadian and American health-care systems, said Murray. Instead, he and Woznow are attempting to point out how lucky all Canadians are to be able to go to a doctor or visit a hospital and not face massive medical bills.
Murray was 16 in 1983 when he broke his hip after hitting a tree while skiing in British Columbia. He was in the hospital for two weeks with a fracture but didn’t need major surgery. Not once, he added, did either he or his family ever worry about having to pay a bill while in the hospital.
The deadline to vote for Tommy Douglas is on March 11.
