Ross Thatcher

Wilbert Ross Thatcher, (May 24, 1917 – July 22, 1971) was the ninth premier of Saskatchewan, serving from May 22, 1964 to June 30, 1971.

Believing that because of the Great Depression, private business alone could not stimulate economic development in the province, he joined the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and was elected to Moose Jaw City Council on a labour-reform slate in 1942.

The CCF had held power since the 1944 election.

Thatcher himself was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from the rural southern riding of Morse.

Douglas, premier since 1944, stepped down as premier in November 1961, as he had been elected leader of the newly-formed federal New Democratic Party, earlier that year; this step significantly weakened the Saskatchewan CCF-NDP.

In 1945, he was elected to Parliament representing Moose Jaw.

Thatcher grew increasingly uncomfortable in the CCF because of his roots in the business world, and he soon found himself on the right wing of the party caucus.

He gradually shifted away from the CCF.

In the late 1950s, Thatcher transitioned away from hardware, and into farming and cattle ranching, in the Moose Jaw area.

In 1955, he left the CCF over the issue of corporate taxation, saying that he was "opposed to Socialism and all it stands for".

He sat as an Independent MP for the rest of his term, before running unsuccessfully for the Liberal Party of Canada in the federal elections of 1957 and 1958.

During the 1957 federal campaign, Thatcher attacked the provincial CCF government's record on crown corporations by describing them as a dismal failure.

Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas challenged Thatcher to a debate in the town of Mossbank, which was broadcast on the radio across the province.

The debate was widely regarded as a draw.

However, many observers believed that Thatcher had more than held his own against the formidable Douglas.

The debate established Thatcher as the province's main anti-CCF standard bearer.

Thatcher was defeated by Hazen Argue of the CCF in the 1957 federal election and again in 1958.

Despite his defeat at the federal level, Thatcher was courted by the provincial Saskatchewan Liberal Party and became its leader in 1959 at the party's leadership convention by defeating three rivals.

He led the Saskatchewan Liberal Party in four general elections, in 1960, 1964, 1967 and 1971.

Thatcher was defeated in his first election in 1960, but won the next two elections in 1964 and 1967 with majority governments.

He led the party into the 1960 provincial election, which was fought over the issue of Medicare.

The Liberals increased their level of public support but could not make a significant dent in the Saskatchewan CCF's large majority.

He employed his son Colin as a full-time manager of his agricultural businesses, starting in 1962.

The younger Thatcher had earned two agricultural degrees at Iowa State University.

The new business ventures proved successful.

The Liberals had gained momentum, however, and the anti-CCF opposition coalesced around them, particularly in the face of events such as the Saskatchewan doctors' strike, which had hurt the CCF's popularity.

The Liberals won a string of by-elections over the next three years.

In the 1964 provincial election, the Liberals won a narrow victory that ended 20 years of CCF-NDP government.

The Liberals were only 0.1% ahead of the CCF in the popular vote.

However, a sharp decline in Social Credit support allowed the Liberals to win a six-seat majority.

By now, there was very little left of Thatcher's roots in the CCF.

His government sold several crown corporations and declared the province "open for business" by encouraging private investment in the potash and other industries.

On economic issues, Thatcher's government was classically liberal, and was well to the right of the federal Liberals.

Following his defeat in the general election of 1971, he retired from politics and died shortly afterwards.

Born in Neville, Saskatchewan, Thatcher was a Moose Jaw-based businessman, who developed an interest in politics shortly after the birth of his son, Colin Thatcher.

Ross's father, Wilbur, had built a chain of hardware stores across the province, which the son helped to manage.

He graduated from high school at 15, and attended Queen's University, in Kingston, Ontario, where he earned a commerce degree at 18.

Immediately following graduation, Thatcher became executive assistant to the vice-president of Canada Packers, in Toronto, but had to return to Saskatchewan to run the family business after his father had become ill.

By this time, the family business included outlets in Regina and Saskatoon as well as the original Moose Jaw store, and was prospering.

Thatcher employed his siblings to assist him.