Have you ever been sick? Chances are you have. Medical care is very expensive; a simple check can cost more than 100 dollars. If a checkup costs that much, think about how much an operation might cost. If it weren't for Medicare or universal (free) health insurance, it's possible that some of you would be bankrupt by now. The inventor of this system is Tommy Douglas, voted the greatest Canadian of all time by the CBC television channel. This remarkable man was the former premier of Saskatchewan for 17 years and the father of Medicare. Tommy Clement “Tommy” Douglas was born in Falkirk, Scotland, on October 20, 1904. In 1910, Tommy Douglas emigrated to Canada with his family. Shortly before leaving Scotland, he fell and subsequently contracted osteomyelitis, a type of bone infection. His family was too poor to afford the expensive operations he had to undergo to treat his leg. Miraculously, the doctor hired by the Douglas family offered to operate on him for free on the condition that they allow the doctor's students to observe the operation. The Douglas family accepted the offer. The doctor performed a series of operations that would have saved his leg, but an unfortunate side effect might have meant he never bent his leg again. Much to Tommy's surprise, he was able to bend his leg immediately after the operation, shouting, "I can bend my leg!" That leg served him well for 30 years to come. Nine years later, Tommy began an amateur boxing career. Three years later, at the age of 18, Tommy fought his way to the title of “Manitoba Lightweight Champion.” He was able to defend his title for one more year, in 1923. This also helped him finance his future university education....... middle of paper ...... inflation calculator” Bank of Canada. 4/5/14. << http://goo.gl/Kd13gv>>"Tommy Douglas." The Douglas Coldwell Foundation. 4/12/14.<< http://www.dcf.ca/en/tommy_douglas.htm>>"Canadian Health Act". The justice laws website. 4/13/14 << http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-6/>>"Canada Health Act Page 2." The justice laws website. 04/13/14. << http://goo.gl/fr1qPi >>“Canada Health Act Page 3.”The justice laws website. 04/13/14. << http://goo.gl/gdzb6E >> Wikipedia on “Shirley Douglas”. 4/5/14. << http://goo.gl/BIQXam>>“RCMP files on Douglas remain secret: RCOC. The Toronto sun. 25/3/14. << http://goo.gl/crfJ0S >>“Leaving British Columbia.” The British Columbia Ministry of Health. 4/10/14. << http://goo.gl/SE1VYd>>“Medicare Protection Act and regulations” Ministry of Health British Columbia 4/10/14.<< http://goo.gl/3YXl8o >>