[2] Immediately following graduation, Thatcher became executive assistant to the vice-president of Canada Packers in Toronto, but returned to Saskatchewan to run the family business after his father had become ill in the late 1930s.

[3] Thatcher's politics were heavily influenced by the Great Depression, after which he believed that private business alone could not stimulate economic development on the prairies.

Thatcher consequently joined the socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and was elected to Moose Jaw City Council on a labour-reform slate in 1942.

[1] He sat as an Independent MP for the rest of the term, before running unsuccessfully for the federal Liberal Party in the 1957 and 1958 elections; he lost both times to the CCF's Hazen Argue.

[2] During the 1957 federal campaign, Thatcher attacked the Saskatchewan CCF government's affinity for crown corporations, describing them as a dismal failure.

[5] In response, Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas challenged Thatcher to a debate, which ultimately took place in the town of Mossbank and was broadcast by television and radio across the province.

[9] The Liberals campaigned against Medicare, finding that they could not make a significant dent in the Saskatchewan CCF's large majority.

[10] Ahead of the 1964 provincial election, the Liberals campaigned on growing economic development in the province; Thatcher also wooed Progressive Conservative voters and worked to limit competition between free-enterprise candidates.

Thatcher's government sold several crown corporations and declared the province "open for business" by encouraging private investment in the potash and other industries.

[16][17] Thatcher himself became renowned for being a "ruthless" leader that "ruled the Liberal caucus with an iron fist" and ran what came to be seen as a "one-man government".

The provincial economy, which was still heavily resource-based, experienced a downturn, and reduced government investment hurt both the potash and agriculture industries, while oil and uranium production dropped as well.

[2] Thatcher pitched the next election, which took place in June 1971, as a stark choice between capitalism and socialism, promising for his part to continue running government like a business.

"[23] In the aftermath of the election, Thatcher announced to the party that he intended to resign as Liberal leader, placing a one-year limit on the search for a successor.

[24] In July 1971, only weeks after his election defeat, Thatcher died at his home in Regina, apparently as a result of complications from diabetes and a heart condition.

He was convicted of first degree murder by the jury in the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench and sentenced to life in prison for 25 years.