Two more first round matchups to vote on, as a pair of Atlantic Canadian heavyweights square off in one matchup, and two polarizing figures from the West lock horns in the other. Advancing so far are Oliver Mowatt (12), Ed Schreyer (7), Rene Levesque (16), and WAC Bennett (14).
Voting for this round will close just before midnight Tuesday night.
Joey Smallwood ( 13) vs. Louis Robichaud (4)
Joey Smallwood
Newfoundland (1949-72)
Career Highlights: The self-proclaimed “last father of confederation” led Newfoundland into Canada in 1949. He would govern for 23 years with an iron fist, stamping out all opposition by any means neccesary. Like Napolean and Michael Jordan, he twice tried political comebacks, with one being somewhat succesful, and one being a failure. During his time as Premier, he tried to industrialize the province, but most of his projects were failures.
Betting Line: With Atlantic Canada 0 for 2 so far in the first round, at least one man from our East is assured a spot in the gang of eight. Smallwood certainly has more name recognition than Robichaud, but Robichaud’s record is a lot less controversial.
Tommy Douglas (15) vs. Peter Lougheed (2)
Tommy Douglas
Career Highlights: Tommy Douglas formed the first social-democratic government in North America in 1944. Over the next seventeen years, the Douglas administration established universal medicare, and created a number of Crown corporation including Saskatchewan Government Insurance, Sask. telecommunication and Sask. Power Corporation. The Government passed the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights, passed legislation permitting public service employees to unionize, and set about to reform the judicial system including creating the first small claims court in Canada. Governing during a post-was economic boom, the Douglas government presented successive balanced budgets that led to the province’s large debt being paid off.
