Roy Romanow
Encyclopedia
Roy John Romanow, PC
, OC, QC
, SOM
(born August 12, 1939 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian
politician and the 12th Premier
of Saskatchewan
(1991–2001).
Born the son of Ukrainian immigrants, he performed well in school despite English being his second language and studied at the University of Saskatchewan
, earning a B.A.
in Political Science
and a LL.B. while involving himself heavily and early on in student politics.
He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
in the 1967 provincial election
in the riding of Saskatoon Riversdale
. From 1971 to 1982, he served as deputy premier of Saskatchewan. In 1982 he was defeated by Joanne Zazalenchuk a 22 year old retail employee. From 1987 to 2001, he was leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
.
Romanow was well-acquainted with Pierre Trudeau
, Prime Minister
from 1968–1979 and 1980–1984. He remains a close friend of Jean Chrétien
, who was prime minister from 1993 to 2003.
During the 1981 discussions over patriation
of the Canadian constitution, Attorney-General of Ontario
Roy McMurtry
, Chrétien and Romanow worked out the final details of Canada's new constitution, resulting in the famous late-night Kitchen Accord. Romanow objected strongly to any protections on private property in the new Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and none were included.
On November 7, 1987, Romanow replaced Allan Blakeney
as leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party. When the party won the 1991 provincial election
, he became Premier of Saskatchewan.
Romanow's government was more conservative than previous NDP administrations, and was considered a practitioner of what became known as the Third Way
in the mould of the British Labour Party
under Tony Blair
. Romanow, who inherited a $14 billion dollar debt from the previous Conservative government, eliminated the annual budgetary deficit by closing hospitals, cutting services and raising taxes. Romanow's government also had the benefit of substantially lower interest rates at a national level than did his predecessor in the 1980s. The Romanow NDP explained the cutbacks to the left wing of the party by claiming Romanow's range of political action was limited by the large debt accumulated by previous governments.
In the 1999 provincial election
, the NDP was re-elected to a third consecutive term, but was reduced to a minority of seats in the legislature. Romanow along with Dwain Lingenfelter
negotiated an agreement to form a coalition government
with the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
, appointing several Liberals to Cabinet
. Romanow retired in 2001, and was replaced as leader of the NDP and Premier by Lorne Calvert
.
The federal Liberals
, and especially Jean Chrétien, had long tried to encourage Romanow to run federally as a Liberal, but he always refused.
On April 4, 2001, Romanow was appointed to head the Royal Commission
on the Future of Health Care in Canada by Governor General
Adrienne Clarkson
, on the advice of Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien
. He released the Romanow Report
in 2002, which outlined suggestions to improve the health care system.
On November 13, 2003 he was sworn in as a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
by Governor General Clarkson, again on the advice of Prime Minister Chrétien.
In 2003, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
and was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit
. Romanow's official portrait was unveiled at Saskatchewan's Legislative Assembly in 2005, when he received the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan from Lieutenant Governor Lynda Haverstock
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, OC, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, SOM
Saskatchewan Order of Merit
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor Frederick Johnson, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Grant Devine, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(born August 12, 1939 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian
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...
politician and the 12th Premier
Premier of Saskatchewan
The Premier of Saskatchewan is the first minister for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
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....
(1991–2001).
Born the son of Ukrainian immigrants, he performed well in school despite English being his second language and studied at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, earning a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and a LL.B. while involving himself heavily and early on in student politics.
He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
in the 1967 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1967
The Saskatchewan general election of 1967 was the sixteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on October 11, 1967, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
in the riding of Saskatoon Riversdale
Saskatoon Riversdale
Saskatoon Riversdale is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. It has been held by the Premier of Saskatchewan from 1991 to 2007...
. From 1971 to 1982, he served as deputy premier of Saskatchewan. In 1982 he was defeated by Joanne Zazalenchuk a 22 year old retail employee. From 1987 to 2001, he was leader 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...
.
Romanow was well-acquainted with Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
from 1968–1979 and 1980–1984. He remains a close friend of Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
, who was prime minister from 1993 to 2003.
During the 1981 discussions over patriation
Patriation
Patriation is a non-legal term used in Canada to describe a process of constitutional change also known as "homecoming" of the constitution. Up until 1982, Canada was governed by a constitution that was a British law and could be changed only by an Act of the British Parliament...
of the Canadian constitution, Attorney-General of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Roy McMurtry
Roy McMurtry
Roland "Roy" McMurtry, OC, OOnt is a judge and former politician in Ontario, Canada and the current Chancellor of York University.-Early life:McMurtry was born in Toronto and educated at St. Andrew's College, graduating in 1950...
, Chrétien and Romanow worked out the final details of Canada's new constitution, resulting in the famous late-night Kitchen Accord. Romanow objected strongly to any protections on private property in the new Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and none were included.
On November 7, 1987, Romanow replaced 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:...
as leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party. When the party won the 1991 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1991
The Saskatchewan general election of 1991 was the twenty-second provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on October 21, 1991, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, he became Premier of Saskatchewan.
Romanow's government was more conservative than previous NDP administrations, and was considered a practitioner of what became known as the Third Way
Third way (centrism)
The Third Way refers to various political positions which try to reconcile right-wing and left-wing politics by advocating a varying synthesis of right-wing economic and left-wing social policies. Third Way approaches are commonly viewed from within the first- and second-way perspectives as...
in the mould of the British Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
under Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
. Romanow, who inherited a $14 billion dollar debt from the previous Conservative government, eliminated the annual budgetary deficit by closing hospitals, cutting services and raising taxes. Romanow's government also had the benefit of substantially lower interest rates at a national level than did his predecessor in the 1980s. The Romanow NDP explained the cutbacks to the left wing of the party by claiming Romanow's range of political action was limited by the large debt accumulated by previous governments.
In the 1999 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1999
The Saskatchewan general election of 1999 was the twenty-fourth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on September 16, 1999 to elect members of the 24th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, the NDP was re-elected to a third consecutive term, but was reduced to a minority of seats in the legislature. Romanow along with Dwain Lingenfelter
Dwain Lingenfelter
Dwain Lingenfelter is a businessman, farmer, politician and former Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party. Lingenfelter won the leadership of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party on June 6, 2009...
negotiated an agreement to form a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
with the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
, appointing several Liberals to Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
. Romanow retired in 2001, and was replaced as leader of the NDP and Premier by Lorne Calvert
Lorne Calvert
Lorne Albert Calvert, MLA was the 13th Premier of Saskatchewan, from 2001 to 2007. Calvert, was the leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party from 2001 to June 6, 2009, when he was succeeded by Dwain Lingenfelter.In 1975, Calvert married Betty Sluzalo of Perdue, Saskatchewan. After attending...
.
The federal Liberals
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, and especially Jean Chrétien, had long tried to encourage Romanow to run federally as a Liberal, but he always refused.
On April 4, 2001, Romanow was appointed to head the Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on the Future of Health Care in Canada by Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
, on the advice of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
. He released the Romanow Report
Romanow Report
The Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada , also known as the Romanow Report, is a committee study led by Roy Romanow on the future of health care in Canada. It was delivered in December 2002....
in 2002, which outlined suggestions to improve the health care system.
On November 13, 2003 he was sworn in as a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
by Governor General Clarkson, again on the advice of Prime Minister Chrétien.
In 2003, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit
Saskatchewan Order of Merit
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor Frederick Johnson, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Grant Devine, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. Romanow's official portrait was unveiled at Saskatchewan's Legislative Assembly in 2005, when he received the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan from Lieutenant Governor Lynda Haverstock
Lynda Haverstock
- External links :***...
.