Roy Romanow
Roy Romanow | |
---|---|
12th Premier of Saskatchewan | |
In office November 1, 1991 – February 8, 2001 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Lieutenant Governor | Sylvia FedorukJack WiebeLynda Haverstock |
Preceded by | Grant Devine |
Succeeded by | Lorne Calvert |
Chair of the Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada | |
In office April 2001 – November 2002 | |
Prime Minister | Jean Chrétien |
Saskatchewan Leader of the Opposition | |
In office November 7, 1987 – November 1, 1991 | |
Preceded by | Allan Blakeney |
Succeeded by | Grant Devine |
3rd Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party | |
In office November 7, 1987 – January 27, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Allan Blakeney |
Succeeded by | Lorne Calvert |
Deputy Premier of Saskatchewan | |
In office June 30, 1971 – May 8, 1982 | |
Premier | Allan Blakeney |
Succeeded by | Eric Berntson |
Saskatchewan Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs | |
In office June 19, 1979 – May 8, 1982 | |
Premier | Allan Blakeney |
Preceded by | new office |
Succeeded by | John Gary Lane |
Attorney General of Saskatchewan | |
In office June 30, 1971 – May 8, 1982 | |
Premier | Allan Blakeney |
Preceded by | Darrel Verner Heald |
Succeeded by | John Gary Lane |
Provincial Secretary of Saskatchewan | |
In office June 30, 1971 – May 12, 1972 | |
Premier | Allan Blakeney |
Preceded by | Darrel Verner Heald |
Succeeded by | Edwin Tchorzewski |
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan | |
In office October 11, 1967 – April 26, 1982 | |
Preceded by | New Riding |
Succeeded by | Jo-Ann Zazelenchuk |
Constituency | Saskatoon Riversdale |
In office October 20, 1986 – February 8, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Jo-Ann Zazelenchuk |
Succeeded by | Lorne Calvert |
Constituency | Saskatoon Riversdale |
Personal details | |
Born | Roy John Romanow August 12, 1939 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
Political party | New Democratic Party |
Alma mater | University of Saskatchewan |
Profession | Lawyer |
Roy John Romanow PC OC SOM KC (born August 12, 1939) is a Canadian politician who served as the 12th premier of Saskatchewan from 1991 to 2001. He was the leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party from 1987 until his retirement in 2001. He was the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Saskatoon Riversdale from 1967 to 1982 and from 1986 to 2001.
Romanow played a prominent role in Allan Blakeney's NDP government from 1971 to 1982, particularly in negotiations over Patriation of the Canadian Constitution. He became the Leader of the Opposition in 1987 before leading the NDP to three consecutive election victories in the 1990s. His time as premier left a divisive legacy within Saskatchewan political history. When Romanow first took office, Saskatchewan was facing the prospect of bankruptcy. His fiscal management brought the province back to balanced finances by the middle of the decade. However, his embrace of Third Way neoliberal politics disillusioned many within the NDP. Moreover, the perception that his cuts to spending disproportionately impacted rural Saskatchewan deepened an already growing divide between urban and rural issues and voters in the province, which factored prominently into future elections.
Early life
[edit]Romanow was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in 1939 to Tekla and Michael Romanow, who were Ukrainian immigrants from Ordiv—currently Chervonohrad Raion—Ukraine. His first language was Ukrainian.
He studied at the University of Saskatchewan, earning bachelor's degrees in Political science in 1960 and Law in 1964, while involving himself heavily in student politics—he served a year as president of the Students' Representative Council. Romanow then practiced law, articling with and joining Goldenburg, Taylor and Company in Saskatoon. He married Eleanore Boykowich in 1967.