Regina Leader Post
July 18, 1962. p.2
The councils of Saskatchewan’s 11 cities either support the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons or are neutral in the medical care controversy in the province.
The strongest stand was taken by the Yorkton council. At a regular meeting two days after the medical care plan was instituted it unanimously voted unconditional support of Saskatchewan doctors.
The province’s CCF government implemented its comprehensive compulsory pre-paid medical care insurance plan July 1. Doctors, saying the plan gave the government too much control of their profession, boycotted it by withdrawing all medical services except those necessary for emergency cases.
The Estevan city council voted in favor of the stand taken by the doctors and sent a telegram to Premier Lloyd asking that the medical care plan be suspended until agreement with the doctors can be reached.
The position of the North Battleford council was set out in a letter to a CCF party caucus in Regina.
The letter said the government should “give urgent consideration” to suspending the Medical Care Act and negotiating with doctors for a plan acceptable to both sides.
Doctors have asked the government to suspend the plan and negotiate a new one. The doctors say they will end their withdrawal of services if the act is not suspended.
North Battleford council also asked that the government consider establishing a prepaid medical insurance plan on a local basis with control in the hands of local authorities.
Doctors have said such a plan might be acceptable to them.
Mayor Roy Dean of North Battleford said the doctors boycott had lowered the standard of medical care in the city. “However I would like to take this opportunity of behalf of city council to express our appreciation to the local medical men. . .”
Saskatoon council asked the government to suspend the Medical Care Act and negotiate one acceptable to the doctors. It said, “we strongly oppose the present Medical Care Act,” but endorsed some kind of prepaid medical care.
MAYOR STAYS NEUTRAL
City council in Regina, with the exception of Mayor Henry Baker, urged the government to suspend the medical care plan and negotiate with doctors. Mayor Baker said he would remain neutral.
Melville council asked the government to suspend the medical care plan until a satisfactory agreement is reached between doctors and government and urged immediate negotiations on the impasse. The Melville council endorsed the principle of universal medical insurance. One council member voted against the resolution.
Mayor W. R. Bailey blamed the impasse on what he said was the stubbornness of Premier Lloyd and Dr. H. D. Dalgleish, president of the provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons. He called them “two arrogant gentlemen.”
The Melville council also suggested a plebiscite might be held among the people of the province on the medical care question.
WANTS NEGOTIATIONS
In Swift Current, council asked immediate negotiations to end the doctor-government impasse and said if such were not possible the Medical Care Act should be suspended.
City council in Weyburn, Moose Jaw, Lloydminster and Prince Albert are officially neutral on the medical care question.
The Weyburn council met with doctors and suggested they become employees of the city, but was turned down. The council sent a wire to the provincial government and the college saying it “deplores the threatened loss of doctors from this community and implores the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the provincial government to resolve their differences. . .”
Mayor O. B. Fyshe of Moose Jaw said his city’s council took an impartial stand so that aldermen would be available as mediators should a chance for them to act arise.
