M.G. Bucholtz' latest book stems from a move to Mossbank, an interest in history, and his realization that 'The Great Debate' the town hosted in 1957 deserves more attention and recognition for its enduring effect on Canadian politics.
"We lived in Regina for forever, and we used to go down to Assiniboia for family functions," Bucholtz explained. "Every time we drove by the turnoff for Mossbank, I would sort of register what it said at the bottom of the sign, you know, 'Home of The Great Debate,' but I never gave it a second thought.
"In 2020, we built our home and moved to Mossbank, and we got settled in and one day I got a call from a friend, who said 'Hey, where'd you go?' And I said, well, we moved to Mossbank. And he said, 'Oh, the home of The Great Debate,' and something clicked for me and I thought, I'm missing something."
Bucholtz has degrees in engineering, business, and brewing and distilling science, and is the author of more than 20 books, covering topics including the financial markets, brewing and distilling, and agriculture. His passion for research led him from a personal interest in The Great Debate, to the desire to publish a research paper on it, to the realization that he had enough material for a full book.
The Great Debate took place at the Mossbank Community Hall in 1957. It broke ground as a public confrontation between renowned leader Tommy Douglas, then premier of Saskatchewan, and the upstart Ross Thatcher, whose criticism of Douglas' Crown corporations became highly public.
In response, Douglas challenged Thatcher to a debate anywhere, anytime, and Thatcher picked Mossbank. The debate attracted national attention, over a thousand people attended, and the media coverage was near enough unprecedented.
"It was 'the great debate' because for the first time, politics was being done differently. Up until that point, I think politicians basically went door-to-door, gave some speeches, shook a lot of hands and kissed a lot of babies. For the first time, the media and the public were invited to a community hall to witness two men at the podium, going at it head to head, and that was radically new for Canadian politics."
Bucholtz believes that Thatcher won the debate through charisma: He was sharp, critical, appealed to popular sentiment, and didn't try to make it a policy comparison. Douglas, on the other hand, came prepared with facts, numbers, and policy points: He was, in other words, boring. Nevertheless, he remained popular enough to create a solid public healthcare system years later, and remains a central figure in Canadian history.
"Here was the great Tommy Douglas, the orator," Bucholtz added. "He could have ripped Ross Thatcher to shreds, but he didn't. Why not? ... Something happened."
Thatcher vs Douglas, published by Wood Dragon Books, covers the entire lead-up to the debate (everything you need to know about the backgrounds and influences of both men), the debate itself, and the effects it had across the country to the present day.
Learn more at TheGreatDebate.ca, and pick up a copy from Amazon.ca or Barnes & Noble.
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