W. 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 May 14, 1917 Neville, Saskatchewan |
| Died | July 22, 1971 (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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