Woodrow Stanley Lloyd
Encyclopedia
Woodrow Stanley Lloyd was a Canadian
politician
who succeeded Tommy Douglas
as Premier of the Province of Saskatchewan
. Douglas left provincial politics to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party
.
Born in Webb
, Saskatchewan on July 16, 1913. He was educated as a teacher in Moose Jaw and began teaching in 1933. He soon became active in the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation
and held many positions in the organization including holding the office of president from 1941 to 1944.
In 1944
, Woodrow Lloyd was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
member for the constituency of Biggar
, a seat he held until his retirement in 1971
. Lloyd would become the youngest cabinet minister
in Saskatchewan history, up to that point, when he was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Education by new Premier
Tommy Douglas
. Lloyd served as Minister of Education for the next sixteen years and oversaw the complete overhaul of the Saskatchewan education system. The most controversial measure he introduced was the amalgamation of Saskatchewan over 5,000 local school boards into 56 Larger School Units. The measure was instituted to create more equitably education opportunities for students across the province by providing students greater opportunity to receive instruction by specialized teachers and access to increased education resources. The move however was opposed by some in rural Saskatchewan who resented the loss of local control over schools, as the move to LSUs resulted in the closure of nearly all rural one-room schools over the next two decades.
After the 1960 election
Douglas appointed Lloyd the Provincial Treasurer. In 1961 Douglas resigned as Premier to assume the leadership of the newly formed federal New Democratic Party
(NDP). Lloyd was elected leader of what was now called the Saskatchewan CCF-NDP
after he easily defeated Olaf Turnbull in the leadership contest.
As Premier, Lloyd was responsible for implementing the universal health care
plan that Douglas had introduced. Lloyd's government had to cope with the Saskatchewan Doctors' Strike
of July 1962, in which the province's physicians withdrew service in an attempt to defeat the Medicare initiative.
Lloyd and his government refused to back down on the concept of a universal public health care system, and persuaded the doctors to settle after 23 days.
While Medicare was implemented, the political turmoil did lasting damage to the Lloyd government, contributing to its defeat at the hands of Ross Thatcher's Saskatchewan Liberal Party
in the 1964 provincial election
. Medicare was later extended to all provinces and territories in Canada as a result of the Saskatchewan experiment.
After his government’s defeat Lloyd became Leader of the Opposition a post he held until 1970 when Allan Blakeney
was elected leader of the Saskatchewan NDP. After retirement from the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1971
, Lloyd was appointed as representative for the United Nations
Development Program in South Korea. However just months after assuming this post, he died suddenly in Seoul
, South Korea
.
Dianne Norton. "Woodrow S. Lloyd" in Gordon L. Barnhart ed. Saskatchewan Premiers of the Twentieth Century. Regina: Canadian Plains Research Center, 2004.
Brett Quiring. "The Social and Political Philosophy of Woodrow S. Lloyd" in Saskatchewan History
Vol. 56 No. 1 (Spring 2004) pgs 5–20.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who succeeded Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
as Premier of the Province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. Douglas left provincial politics to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
.
Born in Webb
Webb, Saskatchewan
- See also :* List of communities in Saskatchewan* Villages of Saskatchewan* Paradise Hill Airport-External links:********-Footnotes:...
, Saskatchewan on July 16, 1913. He was educated as a teacher in Moose Jaw and began teaching in 1933. He soon became active in the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation
Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation
The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation is the professional organization representing over 12,000 teachers in publicly funded schools in Saskatchewan.The Federation derives its mandate through The Teachers’ Federation Act, 2006...
and held many positions in the organization including holding the office of president from 1941 to 1944.
In 1944
Saskatchewan general election, 1944
The Saskatchewan general election of 1944 was the tenth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 15, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, Woodrow Lloyd was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
member for the constituency of Biggar
Biggar (former provincial electoral district)
Biggar is a former provincial electoral division for the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. This district was created before the 3rd Saskatchewan general election in 1912. The riding was dissolved and combined with the Rosetown district to form Rosetown-Biggar before the...
, a seat he held until his retirement in 1971
Saskatchewan general election, 1971
The Saskatchewan general election of 1971 was the seventeenth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 23, 1971, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
. Lloyd would become the youngest cabinet minister
Executive Council of Saskatchewan
The Executive Council of Saskatchewan is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
in Saskatchewan history, up to that point, when he was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Education by new Premier
Premier of Saskatchewan
The Premier of Saskatchewan is the first minister for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
. Lloyd served as Minister of Education for the next sixteen years and oversaw the complete overhaul of the Saskatchewan education system. The most controversial measure he introduced was the amalgamation of Saskatchewan over 5,000 local school boards into 56 Larger School Units. The measure was instituted to create more equitably education opportunities for students across the province by providing students greater opportunity to receive instruction by specialized teachers and access to increased education resources. The move however was opposed by some in rural Saskatchewan who resented the loss of local control over schools, as the move to LSUs resulted in the closure of nearly all rural one-room schools over the next two decades.
After the 1960 election
Saskatchewan general election, 1960
The Saskatchewan general election of 1960 was the fourteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 8, 1960, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
Douglas appointed Lloyd the Provincial Treasurer. In 1961 Douglas resigned as Premier to assume the leadership of the newly formed federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
(NDP). Lloyd was elected leader of what was now called the Saskatchewan CCF-NDP
Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It currently forms the official opposition, but has been a dominant force in Saskatchewan politics since the 1940s...
after he easily defeated Olaf Turnbull in the leadership contest.
As Premier, Lloyd was responsible for implementing the universal health care
Medicare (Canada)
Medicare is the unofficial name for Canada's publicly funded universal health insurance system. The formal terminology for the insurance system is provided by the Canada Health Act and the health insurance legislation of the individual provinces and territories.Under the terms of the Canada Health...
plan that Douglas had introduced. Lloyd's government had to cope with the Saskatchewan Doctors' Strike
Saskatchewan Doctors' Strike
The 1962 Saskatchewan Doctors' Strike was a 23-day labour action exercised by medical doctors in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in an attempt to force the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation government of Saskatchewan to rescind its program of universal medical insurance...
of July 1962, in which the province's physicians withdrew service in an attempt to defeat the Medicare initiative.
Lloyd and his government refused to back down on the concept of a universal public health care system, and persuaded the doctors to settle after 23 days.
While Medicare was implemented, the political turmoil did lasting damage to the Lloyd government, contributing to its defeat at the hands of Ross Thatcher's Saskatchewan Liberal Party
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
in the 1964 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1964
The Saskatchewan general election of 1964 was the fifteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on April 22, 1964, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
. Medicare was later extended to all provinces and territories in Canada as a result of the Saskatchewan experiment.
After his government’s defeat Lloyd became Leader of the Opposition a post he held until 1970 when Allan Blakeney
Allan Blakeney
Allan Emrys Blakeney, PC, OC, SOM, QC, FRSC was the tenth Premier of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan from 1971 to 1982, and leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party .-Life and career:...
was elected leader of the Saskatchewan NDP. After retirement from the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1971
Saskatchewan general election, 1971
The Saskatchewan general election of 1971 was the seventeenth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 23, 1971, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, Lloyd was appointed as representative for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Development Program in South Korea. However just months after assuming this post, he died suddenly in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Further reading
C.B. Koester ed. The Measure of the Man: Selected Speeches of Woodrow Stanley Lloyd. Saskatoon: Western Producer Prairie Books, 1976.Dianne Norton. "Woodrow S. Lloyd" in Gordon L. Barnhart ed. Saskatchewan Premiers of the Twentieth Century. Regina: Canadian Plains Research Center, 2004.
Brett Quiring. "The Social and Political Philosophy of Woodrow S. Lloyd" in Saskatchewan History
Vol. 56 No. 1 (Spring 2004) pgs 5–20.