Recent Articles

Thomas Walter Scott

large version (60K)

The Honourable Thomas Walter Scott (known less formally as Walter Scott) (1867-1938) was the first Premier of the province of Saskatchewan in Canada.

In his early adult life, Scott was a newspaper editor and publisher, becoming a partner in the Regina Standard from 1892 to 1893. From 1894 to 1895 he was the owner and editor of the Moose Jaw Times. Scott then bought the Regina Leader (known today as the Regina Leader-Post) in 1895 and was its editor until 1900.

Politics lured Scott into joining the Liberal Party of Canada and in 1900, he was elected in the riding of Assiniboia West to the Canadian House of Commons. Scott played a key role in the creation of Saskatchewan and Alberta. In August, 1905, Scott was named the leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party. With the formal creation of Saskatchewan on September 1, 1905 through the passing of The Saskatchewan Act, Scott was named the first Premier by Lieutenant Governor Forget. On December 13, 1905 the first general election was held where the Liberals won with 16 seats and the Provincial Rights Party had 9.

Scott's government instituted wartime prohibition closing all bars and clubs in 1915. His government also extended the voting franchise to women in 1916. This same year his government was shaken by allegations of bribery and graft though Scott himself was not implicated the burden had a toll on his health and he retired from politics that year.

The Walter Scott Building on Albert Street in Regina was named in Scott's honour and is the home of many provincial government agencies and departments.

In 2001, Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
(Premier of North West Territories)

Premier of Saskatchewan
1905-1916 Followed by:
William M. Martin
1916-1922