Editing Lorne Calvert (section)

=== Premier of Saskatchewan (2001–2007) ===
In late 2000, Romanow announced that he would be retiring from politics, setting the stage for a party leadership race leading directly to the premier's office—the first such race since [[Woodrow Lloyd]] succeeded [[Tommy Douglas]] as NDP leader and premier in 1961.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-09-26 |title=Romanow quits politics 'forever' |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/romanow-quits-politics-forever-1.206376 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407190653/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/romanow-quits-politics-forever-1.206376 |archive-date=2024-04-07 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=CBC News}}</ref> The [[2001 Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership election|2001 leadership election]] was highly contested, with seven candidates making it the biggest NDP leadership race in history. It was also the first such election to employ a one-member, one-vote policy, rather than a delegated election.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Praud |first1=Jocelyne |url=https://archive.org/details/saskatchewanpoli0000unse |title=Saskatchewan Politics: Into the Twenty-First Century |last2=McQuarrie |first2=Sarah |publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre |year=2001 |isbn=0-88977-131-6 |editor-last=Leeson |editor-first=Howard A. |location=[[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] |pages=166–167 |language=en-CA |chapter=The Saskatchewan CCF-NDP from the ''Regina Manifesto'' to the Romanow years}}</ref> Calvert joined the race, alongside former NDP MP and then-provincial justice minister [[Chris Axworthy]], three sitting cabinet ministers in [[Buckley Belanger]], [[Joanne Crofford]], and [[Maynard Sonntag]], former [[National Farmers Union (Canada)|National Farmers Union]] president [[Nettie Wiebe]], and former Young New Democrats president Scott Banda. Axworthy was the perceived frontrunner, expected to continue Romanow's legacy; Calvert and Wiebe, meanwhile, ran more leftwing campaigns, with Wiebe running an explicitly anti-[[Neoliberalism|neoliberal]] campaign, and Calvert a more traditional social democratic one, advocating for a greater focus on social programs, especially in healthcare and education.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=McGrane |title=Saskatchewan Politics |pages=155 |language=en-CA |chapter=Which Third Way?}}</ref> Wiebe finished third, and Calvert—who led on every ballot—defeated Axworthy on the final ballot with 58% of nearly 18,000 votes.<ref name=":8" /> With the victory, Calvert became premier on February 8, 2001.

After securing the party leadership, Calvert was elected to the legislature in a [[by-election]] in Romanow's former riding of [[Saskatoon Riversdale]]; moving to Saskatoon from Moose Jaw, Calvert campaigned on a pledge to work closely with local community groups.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-03-19 |title=Byelection day in Saskatoon Riversdale |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/byelection-day-in-saskatoon-riversdale-1.273557 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407175857/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/byelection-day-in-saskatoon-riversdale-1.273557 |archive-date=2024-04-07 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-03-19 |title=Calvert claims victory |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calvert-claims-victory-1.295189 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407175640/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calvert-claims-victory-1.295189 |archive-date=2024-04-07 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=CBC News}}</ref>

Calvert took the helm of the NDP at a time when the Saskatchewan Party—a new unified conservative political party established in 1997—appeared on the cusp of a breakthrough after reducing the NDP to a minority government in 1999 with a strong performance in rural Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Party led polling ahead of the [[2003 Saskatchewan general election|2003 provincial election]]. However, Calvert followed through on his promise to significantly increase social spending, particularly in education and healthcare, and persistently drew a stark contrast between his party's support for the province's major remaining [[crown corporations]] and Saskatchewan Party leader [[Elwin Hermanson]]'s willingness to pursue privatization.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Branch |first=Julian |date=2003-10-18 |title=Calvert unveils NDP strategy |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/calvert-unveils-ndp-strategy/article1047459/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307211221/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/calvert-unveils-ndp-strategy/article1047459/ |archive-date=2017-03-07 |access-date=2023-11-16 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> In November 2003, the NDP narrowly regained a majority government, winning 30 of 58 seats.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-11-06 |title=NDP majority in Saskatchewan |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ndp-majority-in-saskatchewan-1.398636 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407172310/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ndp-majority-in-saskatchewan-1.398636 |archive-date=2024-04-07 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Conway |first=John |date=2003-11-23 |title=NDP's left turn pays off |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/historic/2003/11/23/ndps-left-turn-pays-off |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407172413/https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/historic/2003/11/23/ndps-left-turn-pays-off |archive-date=2024-04-07 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]]}}</ref>

During his full term in office, Calvert expanded child care spaces and introduced a number of targeted welfare programs. The government also began reforming immigration systems to attract more immigrants, and expanded investment in renewable energy and energy conservation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McGrane |title=Crowding the Centre |pages=150–152 |language=en-CA |chapter=Which Third Way?}}</ref> Calvert's spending plans were buoyed by a renewed boom in commodity prices, which led to significant increases in resource revenue for the province.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McGrane |title=Crowding the Centre |pages=154–155 |language=en-CA |chapter=Which Third Way?}}</ref> Calvert instigated a tax review committee that led to corporate tax cuts, designed to bring the province more in line with its neighbours.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Gray |first=John |date=2009-12-29 |title=Saskatchewan: A "Have" Province At Last |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/saskatchewan-a-have-province-at-last/article4297269/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803092617/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/saskatchewan-a-have-province-at-last/article4297269/ |archive-date=2020-08-03 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> Along with tweaks to income taxes and resource royalties, this has been credited with instigating a period of rapid growth in the provincial economy.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mandryk |first=Murray |date=2012-06-25 |title=Calvert's legacy may yet shine through |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/local/mandryk-former-saskatchewan-premier-lorne-calverts-legacy-may-yet-shine-through |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407214536/https://leaderpost.com/news/local/mandryk-former-saskatchewan-premier-lorne-calverts-legacy-may-yet-shine-through |archive-date=2024-04-07 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=Regina Leader-Post}}</ref> The NDP cut the [[provincial sales tax]] down to five percent, froze tuition, and invested in highway renewal.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=2007-11-07 |title=NDP had a 'good run in government' |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/ndp-had-a-good-run-in-government-1.660260 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723021307/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/ndp-had-a-good-run-in-government-1.660260 |archive-date=2022-07-23 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=CBC News}}</ref>

Late in the term, Calvert became increasingly antagonistic with the federal government, a minority parliament led by [[Stephen Harper]]'s [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservatives]]. In March 2007, Calvert argued that the clawback of [[non-renewable resource]] revenues from the equalization formula as implemented in the 2007 federal budget would leave Saskatchewan getting significantly less than had been promised.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-03-21 |title=Tory MP calls Sask. premier 'liar' |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/tory-mp-calls-sask-premier-liar/article_83f89a8b-3770-5b0c-a491-c9431635e628.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128062338/https://www.thestar.com/news/tory-mp-calls-sask-premier-liar/article_83f89a8b-3770-5b0c-a491-c9431635e628.html |archive-date=2024-01-28 |work=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref> Calvert instructed his government to prepare a lawsuit against the federal government, a tactic that was interrupted by the fall provincial election.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robert |first=Tammy |date=2018-07-26 |title=The Saskatchewan Party's history with the issue of equalization isn't all that equal |url=https://macleans.ca/opinion/the-saskatchewan-partys-history-with-the-issue-of-equalization-isnt-all-that-equal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727001040/https://macleans.ca/opinion/the-saskatchewan-partys-history-with-the-issue-of-equalization-isnt-all-that-equal/ |archive-date=2018-07-27 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=[[Maclean's]]}}</ref>

Calvert and his government were defeated in the [[2007 Saskatchewan general election|2007 provincial election]], in which management of the province's booming economy and health care became focal points.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2007-11-08 |title=Expect mainstream gov't from Sask. Party: analyst |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/expect-mainstream-gov-t-from-sask-party-analyst-1.263187 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407161939/https://www.ctvnews.ca/expect-mainstream-gov-t-from-sask-party-analyst-1.263187 |archive-date=2024-04-07 |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=CTV News}}</ref> The NDP's central campaign commitment was a universal drug plan capping prescription drug costs at $15.<ref name=":6" /> Importantly, unlike Hermanson, new Saskatchewan Party leader Brad Wall made a vocal commitment not to privatize the province's crown corporations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Béland |first=Daniel |date=2011-11-01 |title=Politics and policy in Brad Wall's Saskatchewan |url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/continuity-and-change-in-the-provinces/politics-and-policy-in-brad-walls-saskatchewan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714180643/https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/continuity-and-change-in-the-provinces/politics-and-policy-in-brad-walls-saskatchewan/ |archive-date=2016-07-14 |access-date=2023-11-16 |work=Policy Options |publisher=[[Institute for Research on Public Policy]]}}</ref> The result was a drop to 20 seats for the NDP while Wall's party won a majority government.<ref name=":2" /> Upon defeat, Calvert expressed pride in a "good run in government" for the NDP.<ref name=":6" /> After the election, Calvert—who retained his Saskatoon Riversdale seat—said he had no immediate plans to step down as leader, but conceded that he was unlikely to lead the party into the next election.<ref>{{cite news |date=2007-11-08 |title=Victory and defeat |url=http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/story.html?id=b8f7c62f-af79-4c4a-abf8-10c607aa9ab8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172950/http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/story.html?id=b8f7c62f-af79-4c4a-abf8-10c607aa9ab8 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |newspaper=The Leader-Post |via=canada.com}}</ref>