Gordon Snyder
Encyclopedia
Gordon Taylor Snyder, was the Minister of Labour of the Canadian
province of Saskatchewan
from 1971 to 1982, and a member of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
(NDP).Gordon led a meaningful and productive life, which in many ways, reflected the essence of the province he loved.
, were divided between the family farm and Moose Jaw where his father worked as a railroad engineer and a respected union leader. Family discussions surrounded Christian responsibility to your fellow man and the works of prominent European social thinkers. Gordon was appalled at the injustice of an economic system, which left to its own devices, threw so many into despair and poverty, then quickly flourished when socially unproductive items like tanks, guns, and bombs were built. This view that society should serve all its citizens, not just the wealthy and powerful, led Gordon and his parents to become some of the earliest members of the CCF
party which later became the NDP.
In 1942, Gordon jointed the RCAF, serving Canada until his discharge at the wars end in 1945. He then returned home to take up a career as a railroad engineer, operate the family farm and actively participate in community affairs.
to Saskatchewan, and ultimately led to its adoption across Canada.
Subsequent election wins in 1964, 1971, 1975 and 1978 made Gordon one of Saskatchewan’s longest serving MLAs with a total of 22 years in the legislature. His 1971-1982 appointment by Premier Allan Blakeney
to the Provincial Cabinet as Minister of Labour provided the opportunity to develop legislation which reflected Saskatchewan values of fairness, dignity and equality. Snyder was the only labour minister for the entire duration of the Blakeney government from 1971-82. Typically, ministers serve a maximum of three to four years in a portfolio - eleven years is almost unheard of.
Most often a particular minister will want a change of scenery after a few years on the job or they will start to hit road blocks with stakeholder groups and the premier will decide it is time to try someone new. Neither was ever the case for Gordon.
As a Cabinet Minister, his favourite legislative accomplishment was the development of a Canadian first, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which, since its implementation, has served to protect the lives and health of a great many people from workplace related accidents and illness. Another Canadian first, the introduction of the forty hour work week was also made during his tenure as head of the Department of Labour. Gordon Snyder also undertook the complete revamping of workers' compensation in Saskatchewan changing it from a system that saw the government pay out lump sums for permanent injuries to one that was based on income replacement with the focus on rehabilitation.
Gordon retired from public life after the defeat of the provincial NDP government in the 1982 election.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
from 1971 to 1982, and a member of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It currently forms the official opposition, but has been a dominant force in Saskatchewan politics since the 1940s...
(NDP).Gordon led a meaningful and productive life, which in many ways, reflected the essence of the province he loved.
Early years
His formative years, spanning the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, were divided between the family farm and Moose Jaw where his father worked as a railroad engineer and a respected union leader. Family discussions surrounded Christian responsibility to your fellow man and the works of prominent European social thinkers. Gordon was appalled at the injustice of an economic system, which left to its own devices, threw so many into despair and poverty, then quickly flourished when socially unproductive items like tanks, guns, and bombs were built. This view that society should serve all its citizens, not just the wealthy and powerful, led Gordon and his parents to become some of the earliest members of the CCF
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
party which later became the NDP.
In 1942, Gordon jointed the RCAF, serving Canada until his discharge at the wars end in 1945. He then returned home to take up a career as a railroad engineer, operate the family farm and actively participate in community affairs.
Political career
Gordon’s commitment to the development of a just society led him to seek and win office in the 1960 provincial election under the leadership of T.C. Douglas. In 1962, he was a “proud foot soldier” in the fight that brought universal MedicareMedicare (Canada)
Medicare is the unofficial name for Canada's publicly funded universal health insurance system. The formal terminology for the insurance system is provided by the Canada Health Act and the health insurance legislation of the individual provinces and territories.Under the terms of the Canada Health...
to Saskatchewan, and ultimately led to its adoption across Canada.
Subsequent election wins in 1964, 1971, 1975 and 1978 made Gordon one of Saskatchewan’s longest serving MLAs with a total of 22 years in the legislature. His 1971-1982 appointment by Premier Allan Blakeney
Allan Blakeney
Allan Emrys Blakeney, PC, OC, SOM, QC, FRSC was the tenth Premier of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan from 1971 to 1982, and leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party .-Life and career:...
to the Provincial Cabinet as Minister of Labour provided the opportunity to develop legislation which reflected Saskatchewan values of fairness, dignity and equality. Snyder was the only labour minister for the entire duration of the Blakeney government from 1971-82. Typically, ministers serve a maximum of three to four years in a portfolio - eleven years is almost unheard of.
Most often a particular minister will want a change of scenery after a few years on the job or they will start to hit road blocks with stakeholder groups and the premier will decide it is time to try someone new. Neither was ever the case for Gordon.
As a Cabinet Minister, his favourite legislative accomplishment was the development of a Canadian first, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which, since its implementation, has served to protect the lives and health of a great many people from workplace related accidents and illness. Another Canadian first, the introduction of the forty hour work week was also made during his tenure as head of the Department of Labour. Gordon Snyder also undertook the complete revamping of workers' compensation in Saskatchewan changing it from a system that saw the government pay out lump sums for permanent injuries to one that was based on income replacement with the focus on rehabilitation.
Gordon retired from public life after the defeat of the provincial NDP government in the 1982 election.