As the new decade began, the by the province’s medical association, the Chamber of Commerce was opposition Liberal Party and some members of the business community, ISSUES OF THE DAY: on a roll. Membership had been steadily including the provincial chamber. • Oppose the plan rising since 1952, reaching 120 in 1960, and integration with the Canadian Chamber of • Deficit spending at the Commerce was proceeding smoothly. In early 1960, the Saskatchewan College of provincial and federal level Physicians and Surgeons urged the • Taxation However, the provincial chamber was chamber to oppose the compulsory Medicare plan in the form of a resolution to • Improved consultation by the fixated on one overarching issue: Medicare. the provincial government. provincial government The CCF government had pioneered the continent’s first hospital insurance plan on • Labour unrest Accordingly, at a meeting on Feb. 17, 1960, Jan. 1, 1947, which entitled every citizen in the executive committee of the • Inflation the province to free hospital care (although Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce • Slowdown in the oil and gas a small premium was charged annually). issued the following submission to the industry and royalty rates and provincial government: taxes Then, in a radio speech on Dec. 18, 1959, Premier T.C. Douglas announced his • Advocated against the Trade “The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce government’s long-awaited plan for AGM, 1975 Practices Act does not believe it is in the best interest of comprehensive health insurance. The • Provincial government the people to initiate compulsory health proposed Medical Care Insurance Act purchase or expropriation of insurance or state medicine, both from an would provide universal coverage for the potash industry economic and efficient medical service medical treatment costs, including doctors’ point of view, largely on the ground that • Increasing amount of fees - another first in North America. The such government sponsored medical plans government spending on aid government would also establish a Medical have in other countries been extremely programs and subsidies Advisory Committee to make costly and with very few exceptions have recommendations to the province on the at the same time led to a deterioration of implementation of the proposed legislation. the quality of services and overcrowding of facilities.’’ While the Hospital Insurance Act was widely accepted by physicians, the Medical Care In any event, the Medicare debate would be Insurance Act was met with stiff resistance settled -- at least temporarily -- by the re- 21 Saskatchewan Medicare Strike, 1960

election of the CCF government on June 8, chamber “had been taken in,’’ according to Saskatchewan and hence premier of 1960, with a slightly larger majority, the confidential minutes of the meeting. the province. although its percentage of the popular vote slipped five per cent. Premier Douglas himself would not be On Nov. 17, 1961, secretary-manager around the provincial scene much longer. In Purdy wrote to Premier Lloyd to protest Since Medicare was the central issue of the July, 1961, he was elected the first leader of against the proposed act, on the basis campaign, Premier Douglas said the the federal (NDP), that it “violates the basic principle of formed from the merger of the CCF and election was, in effect, a plebiscite on the sound government’’ by delegating “the organized labour. While Douglas was gone, government’s Medicare plan. responsibility for establishing and the issue of Medicare was back on the front administering a plan of medical care burner again. The Medical Advisory insurance for the residents of Nevertheless, the executive committee met Committee had submitted its interim report Saskatchewan.’’ with members of the Douglas cabinet on in September, 1961, calling for doctors to be Dec. 5, 1960, to discuss its Medicare paid on a fee-for-service basis and patients In addition, Purdy argued that “certain submission and resolutions adopted by the charged a small deterrent fee. In October, inequities’’ and “technical difficulties” would provincial chamber at its annual meeting in the Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance result due to the duplication of services and Prince Albert Sept. 23-24, 1960. Act was introduced, without the deterrent benefits offered by private insurance fees and without the approval of the companies. Education Minister took College of Physicians and Surgeons. exception to the chamber’s submission on At its annual meeting in Tisdale on May 9- Medicare and Attorney-General Robert In November, 1961, Woodrow Lloyd was 11, 1962, the chamber passed a resolution (Bob) Walker even suggested that the elected leader of the CCF party in calling for the repeal of the Saskatchewan 22 Medical Care Insurance Act, which was set of universality was retained. A major health May 19, 1965, Purdy reported that he had to be implemented July 1, 1962, noting that and political crisis had been averted. sent a letter to Prime Minister Lester the government had failed to reach an Pearson, Finance Minister Walter Gordon agreement with the College of Physicians By 1963, the chamber and the provincial and Mines Minister W.M. (Bill) Benidickson and Surgeons. cabinet were back on speaking terms, with on behalf of chamber president, Dr. A.W. Premier Lloyd requesting the chamber’s Thomson of Watrous. “While the Saskatchewan Chamber of participation in a hearing in Ottawa with Commerce is not opposed to an acceptable Prime Minister Diefenbaker and the Minister medical care program, it continues to of Transport in June, and another thanking oppose the recent enactment of this the chamber for its “resolution on the “The Saskatchewan legislation and its amendments,’’ the Saskatchewan-Nelson River Development resolution stated. survey and continued support” of the Chamber of Commerce is government’s position. concerned about recent Chamber president H.B. Cowan of Prince reports that the request of By 1964, however, change was in the wind Albert remarked that, despite their the Saskatchewan and the bruising battle over Medicare had disagreements, the meeting with the government for tax taken its toll on the popularity of the Lloyd provincial cabinet on Dec. 18, 1961, was concessions to firms government. The resurgent Liberals, under “one of the most friendly we have had with engaged in solution former CCF MP and hardware cabinet for some time.’’ of potash have been rejected store owner , had been by your government.’’ steadily gaining strength during the That friendly feeling wouldn’t last long, polarizing Medicare debate and defeated Chamber President Dr. A.W Thomson however. The chamber and the provincial the CCF in the 1964 election. cabinet would find themselves at loggerheads again when the July 1, 1962 At the annual meeting in on implementation date for Medicare arrived May 7, 1964, the chamber had its own Woodrow S. Lloyd Photo courtesy of Biggar Museum and Gallery with a full-blown doctors’ strike. change of leadership, as J.R. Davidson of The chamber voiced its support for the Regina succeeded W. W. Aikenhead of provincial government’s efforts to obtain Duelling citizens’ groups, Keep Our Doctors Melfort as president. But the chamber tax concessions for solution mining equal to and Citizens for Medical Care, verbally had other problems besides Medicare to conventional or underground potash fought each other over the divisive issue of deal with. mining , “so as to create an equitable Medicare, while the provincial government competitive position for those companies and the province’s doctors struggled to find Potash mining had begun in the province in now and in the future,’’ the letter said. a solution to the impasse. 1962 after International Minerals and Chemical (IMC) started production at its At the annual meeting in Prince Albert After three week of intense negotiations, the underground mine at Esterhazy, while May 8-10, 1966, Dr. Thomson noted the two sides reached an agreement. Concerns Kalium Chemicals started producing potash Saskatchewan chamber was entering its about threats to doctors’ control over their at its solution mine at Belle Plaine in 1964. third decade and “commented on the practices were resolved, while the concept At the executive committee meeting on effectiveness of our organization.’’ Dr. 23 Thomson told delegates that the meeting in society and on the campus’’ as the At the annual meeting in on May with the provincial cabinet on Oct. 15, 1965, second major issue, director Allan Tubby of 4-6, 1969, chamber president Dr. R.W. Irwin saw the majority of the chamber’s Saskatoon objected. He felt that this subject of outlined the activities of the resolutions accepted “to the point that was receiving far too much publicity, which chamber over the past year, including where we had few unimplemented was making matters worse. representations to provincial and federal recommendations left.’’ governments, promotion of economic But the fourth-ranked issue, the so-called education in elementary and secondary “The president also referred to the Premier’s “The Indian-Metis Problem – A cultural schools and “our support of the Indian- statement concerning the value of the island,” would play a much more prominent Metis program.’’ Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce role in the chamber’s future policy-making. presentations and their value in framing C.W. Cameron, now chairman of the Indian- legislation.’’ In fact, Premier Thatcher had asked the Metis Task Force subcommittee on chamber to appoint a representative to a industrial employment, reported on the committee studying “the Indian-Metis “many problems relating to the training and Dr. Thomson also reported on the problem in Saskatchewan” and suggested employment of Indian and Metis people.’’ integration agreement between the that the “Saskatchewan chamber would Some of the problems Cameron cited provincial chamber and the Canadian be requested to promote employment include the adoption of Indian and Metis Chamber of Commerce, which took effect in of Indian and Metis people at some children by non-native families, the attitude 1952. Under the agreement, the national Hotel Saskatchewan, 1960s future date.’’ of labour unions, control of Indian land, chamber would cover salaries and overhead tenant/landlord relationships, and expenses of the provincial office. In return, At a directors’ meeting on Dec. 10, 1968, counselling of non-native employees. the Saskatchewan chamber would have C.W. Cameron, the chamber’s It was suggested that general education complete autonomy, with respect to policy, representative on the Task Force on Indian may be the best means of helping the programs and resolutions, while agreeing Opportunities, said the task force’s first problem. not to solicit business directly for corporate order of business was finding jobs for membership support. Indian people. Also in 1969, the chamber seemed to be having a full-blown identity crisis. Dr. Thomson, the immediate past-president, The task force found that jobs were Membership and attendance at annual reminded delegates that the chamber had available if the “native people’’ could be meetings continued to decline, chambers two main objectives: to create an effective moved to the regions where the jobs were were airing their dirty laundry in the press, movement and express the views of the located. But Cameron said this was just and other business groups, like the Retail business community on provincial policy. the first step and that a lot more work Merchants’ Association, were encroaching would have to be done to find permanent on the chamber’s turf. At a directors’ meeting on Sept. 13, 1968, solutions. secretary-manager Purdy reported that the The Saskatchewan Industrial Development chamber was asked by the Saskatchewan Cameron told the directors that “the plight Association had been formed because it felt Institute of Public Affairs to rank the of the Indian and Metis people in the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce importance of half a dozen major issues. Saskatchewan was as bad, if not worse, had not been doing its job of industrial When the board of directors chose “unrest than anywhere else in Canada. promotion. 24 As the decade of the 1960s was ending, the the 60-seat legislative assembly, and died a exceed the average growth in GNP (gross chamber sounded the alarm about month after the election. national product), all government programs government spending and rising inflation, should be reviewed and evaluated, and noting that “the economy of Saskatchewan The chamber mourned the passing of the “welfare” programs restrained or curtailed and of Canada appears to be in grave staunch free enterpriser and political if they result in a drastic slowdown in danger as a result of the increasing number soulmate. “Not only did private enterprise economic growth and increased of aid programs and subsidies of all kinds.’’ suddenly become a bad word politically, but unemployment. we also lost a strong champion who As a result, a resolution was passed at the believed in the right of the individual to be The chamber was also feeling shell-shocked 1969-70 annual meeting urging rewarded for his initiative,’’ chamber by the barrage of legislation being passed government at all levels “to refrain from president Michael Stryjek of Humboldt said by the new NDP government, which participation in new aid or subsidy in his speech to the annual meeting in introduced 147 bills in one session – programs wherever possible. ’’ Moose Jaw on May 7, 1972. 29 more than the previous record.

That concern would increase dramatically Because of the change in government, it “The present session of the Legislature in the 1970s, as the twin evils of deficit was October before the chamber was able could be regarded as the most productive spending and rapidly rising inflation would to present its resolutions to the NDP in history,’’ secretary-manager Purdy put a stranglehold on economic growth, a cabinet. “We found the meeting cordial, reported, tongue in cheek, at the 1971-72 Maxwell Henderson, former Auditor General phenomenon that would come to be known but otherwise not too fruitful,’’ Stryjek annual meeting. And many of those bills, of Canada was the guest speaker at the 1977 as “stagflation.’’ told delegates. like the Trade Union Act, Labour Standards SCC AGM. Act, Land Bank Act, Foreign Ownership of Another challenge facing the chamber was On the other hand, the meeting with the Land Act, and Consumer Affairs Act, the defeat of the Thatcher Liberals and the Opposition Liberals went better. “We met affected business directly. election of the NDP government on June 23, quite informally and had an excellent 1971, under former Douglas cabinet discussion with regards to many of our “When the Land Bank Act was announced, minister . policies,’’ the president told delegates. we urged every chamber to have Resolutions from the 1971-72 annual representation at the public meetings to While Blakeney was no fire-breathing meeting in Moose Jaw were focused largely discuss the program and make their radical, his NDP government campaigned on public spending and taxation. One opinions known,’’ Purdy said, referring to against the Liberals’ “give-aways’’ to oil and resolution noted that government the legislation to establish the land bank gas, and mining companies, as well expenditures now represented more than commission, which purchased farm land as the Thatcher government’s increasingly one-third of the country’s total outlay in and leased it back to young farmers. tough stance against strikes and organized goods and services, and the resulting labour in general. taxation levels were placing a “heavy But the chamber found that its burden on individuals and corporations.’’ representations often fell on deaf ears. In Thatcher was reportedly shocked by the November, 1971, the chamber submitted a election results, which saw the NDP take 55 The resolution said the increase in brief to the Minimum Wage Board, calling per cent of the popular vote and 45 seats in government expenditures should not for a differential minimum wage for rural 25 H.A. Purdy interview on the midday show to discuss Operation Freedom, May 21, 1962 26 areas and students. “Our presentation The chamber attempted to deal with the and bring the work stoppage to a suitable and those of other business associations, flood of provincial legislation issuing forth conclusion.’’ groups and individuals had little influence from the Legislative Building by passing a on the decisions of the Minimum Wage resolution calling for the government to Similarly, in August, 1974, the chamber Board,’’ Purdy reported. “inform the public, well in advance, of the urged Parliament to “resume sitting nature of new legislation, allowing for full immediately in an attempt to settle the President Stryjek complained of the consideration, discussion and reaction.’’ handlers’ dispute.” The chamber said increasing polarization of views that in a news release that the dispute was seemed to pit business against organized At the AGM on May 5-7, 1974, in , “highly detrimental to the economy of labour, government, academia and the chamber president O. J. (Orris) Keehr of Saskatchewan because the province relied consumer. Regina reported the chamber raised the greatly on grain exports moved by rail issue on the large volume of legislation through the ports of Vancouver and emanating from Regina with the NDP Thunder Bay.’’ cabinet. He said the chamber also In September, a follow up telegram was complained about the government sent to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and “changing the rules after the game has Michael Stryjek, SCC President, 1971-1973 “In the process of the federal cabinet urging them to take started,’’ specifically referring to bills changing society, there “immediate action to compel the grain affecting the oil and forestry industries, seems to have developed handlers to return to work while a potash mining and other businesses. an ever-widening gap settlement was reached.’’ between the business “We stress the disastrous effect that this community and society at In addition, the chamber was increasingly sort of thing will have on future investment,’’ large. The motivation of worried about the slowdown in the oil and Keehr said. But he added, “I am sorry to business is more and gas industry due to NDP government policy. say that I cannot report much progress more questioned. The The Oil and Gas Conservation, Stabilization in this regard.’’ profit motive is held and Development Act permitted the suspect, in fact, in many government to control production, set retail places the word ‘profit’ is Labour unrest was another major issue for prices, establish a marketing agency and held to be a dirty word.’’ the chamber in 1974-75, as a series of take control of up to 90 per cent of strikes both inside and outside the province provincial oil and gas reserves. SCC President Stryjek, 1971 caused significant economic damage to the provincial economy and individual The act would be challenged by the oil businesses. industry in the courts and found to be ultra vires by the Supreme Court of Canada, In May, 1974, the chamber sent a letter to although a settlement was eventually The annual meeting also saw Eric Robert Premier Blakeney regarding the “crippling reached with the oil industry. (Bob) Olson, general manager of the construction strikes throughout the Alwinsal Potash of Canada mine at province,’’ urging the government to “make Another issue that would loom even larger Lanigan, elected president. every effort to resolve the labour dispute in the years ahead was NDP government Guests at Political Forum, 1978 27 inflation, wage and price controls, and labour unrest.

“Strong emphasis was placed on excess government expenditures at all levels, reinforced by the ever-increasing number of civil servants and massive government building programs, as a primary cause of inflation.’’

As for solutions, the chamber delegation recommended a thorough review of government programs to eliminate duplication, acceptance of the federal wage and price control policy and a “program of fiscal restraint.’’ policy regarding potash, specifically its plan Despite the chamber’s dire warnings, a to acquire a share in the production of Crown corporation, Potash Corporation of The NDP government’s policy to acquire a potash, ostensibly as a means of monitoring Saskatchewan (PCS), was duly formed in significant proportion of the potash mining and encouraging the sale of the mineral. 1975 and proceeded to negotiate the assets in the province continued to concern The chamber was quick to react. purchase of four mines and the production the chamber in 1976. The chamber capacity of a fifth mined under contract. suggested that the government offer 50 In a letter to Premier Blakeney, the chamber The acquisitions resulted in the Crown per cent or more of the shares of Potash rejected the government’s rationale for Corporation owning 40 per cent of Corp. of Saskatchewan to residents and attempting to take over all or part of the Saskatchewan’s productive capacity. foreign-owned potash industry, adding that other Canadians. negotiating a mutually agreeable rate of Rising inflation and continued labour unrest return would be a viable alternative to However, it would take a dozen years and were other issues that preoccupied the expropriation. a change of government for the chamber’s chamber in 1975. The chamber applauded plan to privatize Potash Corp. to come the federal government’s Anti-Inflation As the representative of the business to fruition. Above: Collective Bargaining Workshop, 1978 Program as an effective way to combat the community, the chamber believed it had an nation’s inflationary problems. The chamber also blasted the NDP Below: Blakeney at theWe All Profit from obligation to oppose government Profitspresentation at the 1976 SCC AGM intervention in private enterprise. “The government for its oil and gas royalty rates chamber stated the government did not The chamber met with the NDP cabinet on and taxation policies, noting that the 254 oil have a clear mandate from the people to Oct. 17, 1975, to discuss the chamber’s and gas wells drilled in 1975 was the lowest introduce legislation of such magnitude, statement of policy and resolutions arising in 24 years, while saw 3,700 wells and could not support the unjustifiable risk from the 1975-76 annual meeting in drilled during the same period. The reason of working capital required.’’ , specifically its concerns about for this vast discrepancy was that Alberta 28 producers receive a 150 per cent larger should not, and must not, ignore its return per barrel than Saskatchewan competitive advantages to the producers, the chamber said. businessman,’’ which include no sales tax, lower personal and corporate income tax The chamber urged the NDP to bring rates and a recently introduced package of Saskatchewan royalty rates closer to those tax incentives for small business, the in Alberta and B.C. to assist the industry chamber argued. which had almost become dormant in the past two years. However, the chamber did score some wins as the province eliminated succession duties and gift taxes in the 1976-77 budget, a welcome move which the chamber had been encouraging since its inception, “The chamber has according to F.L. Anderson of Regina, consistently opposed chairman of the finance committee. incursions by government into industrial At its annual meeting April 15-16, 1977, in undertakings, and remains North , the chamber continued its convinced that competitive attack on the NDP government’s enterprise is the best form interference in private business and of organization to develop, intervention in the economy. One resolution own and operate called for the suspension of the Trade industries,’’ according to Practices Act, which sets out unfair acts, the policy statements and such as “trickery” or high-pressure sales resolutions passed at the tactics or grossly overpricing products. annual meeting in Swift Current, May 6-8, 1976. The resolution recommended the government not pass the proposed legislation because the benefit to the consumer would be minimal, and, to a In the same vein, the chamber called for the great extent, the proposed bill would Blakeney government to follow Alberta’s overlap with existing federal legislation example and lower taxes for businesses, under the Combines Investigations Act. especially small business operations. Similarly, when 60 or so chamber members

“Although we do not have the wealth of met with Premier Blakeney and members of Hon. Snyder, Minister of Labour, bringing greetings on behalf of the Saskatchewan government Alberta in this province, nevertheless we his cabinet on Sept. 7, 1977, they outlined at the SCC Presidents Dinner on May 9, 1972. 29 their concerns about the “growing size and relations and communications services, However, the decade of the 1980s would influence of government in our society, and such as the Business Review, Legislative prove just as challenging as the ‘70s. particularly in our economy.’’ Report and Viewpoint surveys. Double-digit inflation and sky-high interest rates, deficit spending and a crisis of Specifically, the chamber recommended “The Saskatchewan chamber registers a confidence in our financial institutions “shifting some government activities to the steady increase in its influence as the ‘Voice would exact a heavy toll on many Canadian private sector,’’ making governments more of Business’ in this province,’’ said chamber businesses, including some well-known accountable and developing incentives to president Rnold Smith of Regina in the members of the Saskatchewan Chamber of promote greater efficiency in government 1978-79 annual report. Commerce. operations. Smith, who was elected at the annual R. H. (Harvie) Allan of Regina, who was meeting in Yorkton, April 28, 1978, said the elected president at the annual meeting in chamber’s policies were being developed , remarked that the and presented more effectively and its Saskatchewan Chamber was increasingly opinions are being sought out prior to the “becoming the voice of business in our introduction of legislation. province.’’ The result was a less adversarial Above: Issues of the Day, 1978 According to the 1978-79 annual report, relationship with government, with “The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce confrontation replaced by Opposite top: Speak Out For Business was the 1976 SCC AGM theme can now claim to be a far more recommendations based on concepts that representative voice of business than ever reflect basic business precepts. Opposite bottom left: Delegates at the AGM before. An intensified legislative drive in in the 1970s support of business objectives resulted in Regina businessman G.E. (Ross) Sneath, Opposite bottom right: Cluff Lake Camp, 1969 some important developments and was elected president at the annual achievements in the past year.’’ meeting in Yorkton, April 27-28, 1979. Sneath believed that a co-operative “Through a network of almost 100 chamber approach worked better than a members and boards, representing an confrontational approach with the entire system of almost 13,000 business provincial government. “Our plan has been people, the chamber is able to provide the to co-operate with the government through provincial government with the grass roots’ discussion and constructive suggestions sentiment of the business community,” the and criticism. By our positive input, we annual report said. believe that we can prove that many governmental services, programs and The chamber was also providing more facilities would be better left in the services to its members, including group competent hands of free enterprise,’’ Sneath insurance, business seminars on labour said in the 1979-80 annual report. 30 31