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Ross Thatcher

W. Ross Thatcher
9th Premier of Saskatchewan
In office
May 22, 1964 – June 30, 1971
Monarch Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor Robert Hanbidge
Stephen Worobetz
Preceded by Woodrow S. Lloyd
Succeeded by Allan Blakeney
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Moose Jaw
In office
June 11, 1945 – August 10, 1953
Preceded by John Gordon Ross
Succeeded by District abolished
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Moose Jaw—Lake Centre
In office
August 10, 1953 – June 10, 1957
Preceded by District created
Succeeded by Louis Harrington Lewry
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for Morse
In office
June 8, 1960 – July 22, 1971
Preceded by Jim Gibson
Succeeded by Jack Wiebe
Leader of the Opposition
In office
June 8, 1960 – May 22, 1964
Preceded by Alexander H. McDonald
Succeeded by Woodrow Lloyd
Personal details
Born Wilbert Ross Thatcher
(1917-05-14)May 14, 1917
Neville, Saskatchewan
Died July 22, 1971(1971-07-22) (aged 54)
Regina, Saskatchewan
Political party CCF (1942-1955)
Independent (1955-1957)
Liberal (1957-1971)
Spouse(s) Peggy Thatcher
(m. 1938; his death 1971)
Children Colin Thatcher
Religion United Church

Wilbert Ross Thatcher, PC (May 24, 1917 – July 22, 1971) was the ninth Premier of Saskatchewan, Canada, serving from May 2, 1964 to June 30, 1971.

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. His father, Wilbur, had built a chain of hardware stores across the province, which Ross helped manage.

He graduated from high school at the age of 15 and attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario where he earned a commerce degree at the age of 18. Thatcher obtained a job as executive assistant to the vice-president of Canada Packers in Toronto but had to return to Saskatchewan, to run the family business, when his father became ill.

Believing because of the Great Depression, that private business alone was unable to 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. 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. In 1955, he left the CCF over the issue of corporate taxation. He sat out his term as an Independent MP before he ran unsuccessfully for the Liberal Party of Canada in the 1957 federal election.


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