Who Is Tommy Douglas A Social Activist?

Introduction
Something of an enigma in that he was solidly socialist in his foundational views, themselves built on a Christian ‘social gospel’ which sought to improve industrialised society through the use of the biblical principles of charity and justice, at the same time Tommy Douglas worked with and through the capitalist system that he abhorred.
An implicit nationalist in that he held the good of the Canadian people above other countries, Douglas was predominantly anti-liberal as he believed that public ownership was the next evolution of democracy, replacing a system where the “major economic decisions affecting the lives of ordinary people are not made by…the government of this country.” ’ (Aivalis)
While he has now passed away his track records in both the national and provincial

Motivated by the difficulties he saw, and consistent with his religious beliefs, “eventually he came to believe that he could do more for people from a political platform than from a pulpit.” (Weyburn Review) And so began his journey into political life, and the influencing of Canadian Government(s) arguably for the good of the whole Canadian society.
Well known for his main achievements, and while ‘he was at times labelled a “Red” and a “Communist” by his political opponents — he won honour largely for his belief that every Canadian deserved the right to have quality health care, regardless of their economic or social situation… and so is frequently called “father of universal healthcare”’ (Babaluk). Interestingly, while he did ‘Introduce the country's first universal-coverage hospital insurance program in 1947’, eventually leading to a national medical scheme, at the same time Ernest Manning introduced full-cover Medicare into Alberta.