Editing Roy Romanow

 {{Short description|12th Premier of Saskatchewan (1991–2001)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Roy Romanow
| honorific-suffix = [[King's Privy Council for Canada|PC]] [[Officer of the Order of Canada|OC]] [[Executive Council of Saskatchewan|ECS]] [[Saskatchewan Order of Merit|SOM]] [[King’s Counsel|KC]]
| image = Roy Romanow University of Ottawa2.jpg
| imagesize = 
| smallimage = 
| alt = 
| caption = Romanow in 2015, at the [[University of Ottawa]]
| office2 = Chair of the [[Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada]]
| term_start2 = April 2001
| term_end2 = November 2002
| primeminister2 = [[Jean Chrétien]]
| order = 12th
| office = Premier of Saskatchewan
| term_start = November 1, 1991
| term_end = February 8, 2001
| deputy = 
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| lieutenant_governor = [[Sylvia Fedoruk]]<br>[[Jack Wiebe]]<br>[[Lynda Haverstock]]
| predecessor = [[Grant Devine]]
| successor = [[Lorne Calvert]]
| office3 = [[List of Saskatchewan Leaders of the Opposition|Saskatchewan Leader of the Opposition]]
| term_start3 = November 7, 1987
| term_end3 = November 1, 1991
| predecessor3 = [[Allan Blakeney]]
| successor3 = [[Grant Devine]]
| office4 = 3rd Leader of the [[Saskatchewan New Democratic Party]]
| term_start4 = November 7, 1987
| term_end4 = January 27, 2001
| predecessor4 = Allan Blakeney
| successor4 = [[Lorne Calvert]]
| majority4 = 
| office5 = Deputy Premier of [[Government of Saskatchewan|Saskatchewan]]
| term_start5 = June 30, 1971
| term_end5 = May 8, 1982
| predecessor5 = 
| successor5 = [[Eric Berntson]]
| premier5 = Allan Blakeney
| office6 = Saskatchewan Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
| term_start6 = June 19, 1979
| term_end6 = May 8, 1982
| predecessor6 = ''new office''
| successor6 = [[John Gary Lane]]
| premier6 = Allan Blakeney
| office7 = [[Attorney General]] of Saskatchewan
| term_start7 = June 30, 1971
| term_end7 = May 8, 1982
| predecessor7 = [[Darrel Verner Heald]]
| successor7 = [[John Gary Lane]]
| premier7 = Allan Blakeney
| office8 = [[Provincial Secretary]] of Saskatchewan
| term_start8 = June 30, 1971
| term_end8 = May 12, 1972
| predecessor8 = [[Darrel Verner Heald]]
| successor8 = [[Edwin Tchorzewski]]
| premier8 = Allan Blakeney
| office9 = Member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]]
| term_start9 = October 11, 1967
| term_end9 = April 26, 1982
| predecessor9 = ''New Riding''
| successor9 = [[Jo-Ann Zazelenchuk]]
| constituency9 = [[Saskatoon Riversdale]]
| term_start10 = October 20, 1986
| term_end10 = February 8, 2001
| predecessor10 = [[Jo-Ann Zazelenchuk]]
| successor10 = [[Lorne Calvert]]
| constituency10 = [[Saskatoon Riversdale]]
| birth_name = Roy John Romanow
| birth_date = {{birth date and age |1939|08|12}}
| birth_place = [[Saskatoon]], Saskatchewan
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| restingplace = 
| restingplacecoordinates = 
| birthname = 
| citizenship = 
| nationality = 
| party = [[Saskatchewan New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]]
| otherparty = 
| spouse = 
| partner =  | relations = 
| children = 
| parents = 
| residence = 
| alma_mater = [[University of Saskatchewan]]
| occupation = 
| profession = [[Lawyer]]
| cabinet = 
| committees = 
| portfolio = 
| religion = 
| signature = 
| signature_alt = 
| website = 
| footnotes = 
| blank1 = 
| data1 = 
| blank2 = 
| data2 = 
| blank3 = 
| data3 = 
| blank4 = 
| data4 = 
| blank5 = 
| data5 = 
}}
'''Roy John Romanow''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|OC|SOM|KC}} (born August 12, 1939) is a [[Canadians|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 of Saskatchewan|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's 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]] [[Neoliberalism|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==
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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Granatstein |first=J. L. |date=2008-10-21 |editor-last=Kucharsky |editor-first=Danny |title=Roy Romanow |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/roy-john-romanow |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221012535/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/roy-john-romanow |archive-date=2018-12-21 |access-date= |website=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>Gregory Marchildon, "Roy Romanow" in Gordon L. Barnhart (ed.), ''Saskatchewan Premiers of the Twentieth Century'' (Regina:  University of Regina Press, 2004), p. 354.</ref>

He studied at the [[University of Saskatchewan]], earning [[Bachelor's degree|bachelor's degrees]] in [[Political science]] in 1960 and [[Law (academic)|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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Roy Romanow fonds |url=https://search.saskarchives.com/roy-romanow-fonds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408020310/https://search.saskarchives.com/roy-romanow-fonds |archive-date=2024-04-08 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan}}</ref> He married Eleanore Boykowich in 1967.<ref name=":0" />

==Early political career (1967–1982)==

===MLA and NDP leadership bid===
Romanow was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan as a member of the CCF-NDP in the [[1967 Saskatchewan general election|1967 provincial election]] in the riding of [[Saskatoon Riversdale]]; the election was won by [[Ross Thatcher]]'s [[Liberal Party of Saskatchewan|Liberals]].<ref>This was a transitional period between the party being known as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the New Democratic Party—before the end of the decade, the party would fully adopt the NDP name.</ref> When [[Woodrow Lloyd]] resigned as party leader in 1970, the young Romanow entered the [[1970 Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership election|leadership election]] to succeed him as leader of the NDP. Romanow was considered the most conservative of four candidates as he was joined by Allan Blakeney, a veteran civil servant and MLA in the governments of Lloyd and [[Tommy Douglas]]; Don Mitchell, an agrarian activist who represented the socialist [[The Waffle|Waffle]] faction of the party; and George Taylor, a labour candidate. Romanow led narrowly on the first and second ballots. The delegated election came down to a final ballot featuring Romanow and Blakeney, and Blakeney won with 54% of the vote.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Borch |first=Peter |url=https://ourspace.uregina.ca/items/360ffa69-7200-4930-8850-fdfff936faea |title=The Rise and Decline of the Saskatchewan Waffle, 1966–1973 |publisher=[[University of Regina]] |year=2005 |series=MA Thesis |location=Regina |pages=84–85 |language=en-CA}}</ref>

===Blakeney government===
Romanow was re-elected in the [[1971 Saskatchewan general election|1971 provincial election]], which resulted in a majority government for Blakeney and the NDP. Blakeney immediately offered his former leadership rival prominent cabinet posts—Romanow served as Attorney General and Deputy Premier for Blakeney's entire tenure as premier, from 1971 to 1982. This meant Romanow played a role in many of the key achievements of the NDP in this era, including the [[nationalization]] of the [[potash]] industry and battles with the federal government over resource rights and taxation, as well as Patriation of the Constitution.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Romanow |first=Roy |title=Back to Blakeney: Revitalizing the Democratic State |publisher=University of Regina Press |year=2019 |isbn=9780889776821 |editor-last=Isinger |editor-first=Russel |location=Regina |pages=6–12 |language=en-CA |chapter=Principled Pragmatism: Allan Blakeney and Saskatchewan's 'Resource Wars' |editor-last2=Whyte |editor-first2=John D. |editor-last3=Romanow |editor-first3=Roy |editor-last4=McGrane |editor-first4=David}}</ref>

During the 1981 discussions over Patriation of the Constitution, federal [[Minister of Justice]] [[Jean Chrétien]], [[Ontario]] Attorney General [[Roy McMurtry]], Romanow, and Saskatchewan's director of constitutional law, John Whyte, worked out the final details of Canada's new constitutional provisions, resulting in the late-night [[Kitchen Accord]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Makin |first=Kirk |date=2012-04-19 |title=Charter architects unanimous about its future |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/charter-architects-unanimous-about-its-future/article4101738/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610030802/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/charter-architects-unanimous-about-its-future/article4101738/ |archive-date=2012-06-10 |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> Romanow objected strongly to any protections on private property in the new [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]], and none were included.

After three consecutive majority governments, Blakeney's NDP were swept from power in the [[1982 Saskatchewan general election|1982 election]] in a shocking upset by [[Grant Devine]]'s [[Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan|Progressive Conservatives]]. Romanow himself was upset in Saskatoon Centre, losing to 23-year-old PC candidate [[Jo-Ann Zazelenchuk]] by 19 votes.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2011-10-20 |title=Saskatoon Riversdale |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatoon-riversdale-1.1050677 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408044742/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatoon-riversdale-1.1050677 |archive-date=2024-04-08 |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

==Late political career (1986–2001)==

=== Return and Opposition Leader (1986–1991) ===
Romanow ran to reclaim his seat from Zazelenchuk in the [[1986 Saskatchewan general election|1986 election]], and he won with nearly 70% of the vote.<ref name=":2" /> The NDP largely rebounded in 1986, narrowly winning the popular vote, but Devine's PCs secured a second majority government with a particularly strong performance in rural Saskatchewan.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Waiser |first=Bill |author-link=Bill Waiser |url=https://archive.org/details/saskatchewannewh0000wais/page/n3/mode/2up |title=Saskatchewan: A New History |publisher=Fifth House |year=2005 |isbn=9781894856492 |location=[[Calgary]] |pages=448 |language=en-CA}}</ref> The result led Blakeney, who had stayed on as Opposition leader after the loss in 1982, to resign as party leader. Romanow ran to succeed Blakeney, and with no challengers was acclaimed the new NDP leader—and leader of the Opposition—on November 7, 1987.

It became clear during the PCs second term that the province's finances were in dire straits. The PCs ran a succession of large budget deficits, which peaked in 1986–87 at $1.2 billion, rapidly increasing the provincial debt.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Eisler |first=Dale |title=From Left to Right: Saskatchewan's Political and Economic Transformation |publisher=University of Regina Press |year=2022 |isbn=9780889778672 |location=Regina |pages=152 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Devine used the fiscal situation as justification to pursue the privatization of a wide range of crown corporations—including [[PotashCorp]], one of the key achievements of the Blakeney era—which engendered fierce opposition from the NDP. The situation came to a head in 1989 when the government moved to privatize [[SaskEnergy]], the natural gas division of [[SaskPower]]; in response, Romanow led a legislative walk-out of the Opposition, effectively bringing government business to a halt. After 17 days, the government relented and ended the sell-off of SaskEnergy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rasmussen |first=Merrilee |url=https://archive.org/details/saskatchewanpoli0000unse |title=Saskatchewan Politics: Into the Twenty-First Century |publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre |year=2001 |isbn=0-88977-131-6 |editor-last=Leeson |editor-first=Howard A. |location=Regina |pages=26–27 |language=en-CA |chapter=The Role of the Legislature |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pitsula |first=James M. |url=https://archive.org/details/privatizingprovi0000pits |title=Privatizing a Province: The New Right in Saskatchewan |last2=Rasmussen |first2=Ken |publisher=New Star Books |year=1990 |isbn=0-921586-09-4 |location=Vancouver |pages=194–196 |language=en-CA |url-access=registration}}</ref> When legislation to privatize PotashCorp was introduced later in 1989, the NDP, buoyed by its success with SaskEnergy, remained in the Legislature, ready to debate the legislation; however, the PCs enacted [[Cloture|closure]] for the first time in provincial history to avoid debate on the issue and move forward with the legislation with no public scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rasmussen |first= |url= |title=Saskatchewan Politics |publisher= |year= |isbn= |editor-last= |editor-first= |location= |pages=27–28 |language=en-CA |chapter=Role of the Legislature |url-access=}}</ref> The PCs were persistently criticized late in their term for undemocratic tactics including [[prorogation]] of the Legislature and the dubious use of special warrants for spending.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rasmussen |first= |url= |title=Saskatchewan Politics |publisher= |year= |isbn= |editor-last= |editor-first= |location= |pages=32–34 |language=en-CA |chapter=Role of the Legislature |url-access=}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Eisler |first= |title=From Left to Right |publisher= |year= |isbn= |location= |pages=149 |language=en-CA}}</ref>

Devine's PCs, which were clearly deeply unpopular, put off the next election as long as legally possible.<ref name=":5" /> When it finally occurred, Romanow led the NDP to a landslide majority government in the [[1991 Saskatchewan general election|1991 provincial election]], winning 55 out of 66 seats, making Romanow [[premier of Saskatchewan|Premier]].<ref name=":9">{{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=155 |language=en-CA |chapter=The Saskatchewan CCF-NDP from the ''Regina Manifesto'' to the Romanow years}}</ref>

=== Premier of Saskatchewan (1991–2001) ===
When Romanow assumed office in 1991, the extent of the fiscal crisis facing the province began to become clearer. The provincial debt had reached nearly $15 billion under the Progressive Conservatives, and the province was facing the prospect of bankruptcy; interest payments on debt alone were accounting for more than 20% of government spending, second only to healthcare.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Waiser |title=Saskatchewan |pages=458–459 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=White-Crummey |first=Arthur |date=2020-10-23 |title=Battle of the records: Which party is better on growth, jobs, cuts and debt? |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/politics/sask-election/battle-of-the-records-which-party-is-better-on-growth-jobs-and-debt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101025404/https://leaderpost.com/news/politics/sask-election/battle-of-the-records-which-party-is-better-on-growth-jobs-and-debt |archive-date=2020-11-01 |access-date=2023-11-15 |work=Regina Leader-Post}}</ref> Romanow had campaigned on getting the province's fiscal house back in order, and dealing with the fiscal crisis became his government's top priority.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":7" />

==== Economic policy ====
In justifying his prioritization of the fiscal crisis, Romanow appealed to the previous CCF/NDP regimes of Blakeney and Tommy Douglas who, despite increasing the size and role of the government and its spending, prioritized sound fiscal management and balanced budgets.<ref name=":10">{{Cite book |last=Waiser |title=Saskatchewan |pages=459 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Praud |title=Saskatchewan Politics |last2=McQuarrie |pages=156–157 |chapter=The Saskatchewan CCF-NDP}}</ref> However, in their approach to dealing with the crisis, Romanow and finance minister [[Janice MacKinnon]] practiced austerity, greatly reducing government spending by downsizing the government and cutting services. They cited pressure from bondholders and a lack of assistance from the federal government as factors that increased the pressure to drastically reduce spending.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Patrick |date=2020-11-18 |title=Saskatchewan staved off bankruptcy in the '90s. Is there hope for N.L., too? |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/saskatchewan-bankruptcy-newfoundland-lessons-1.5804984 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118190042/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/saskatchewan-bankruptcy-newfoundland-lessons-1.5804984 |archive-date=2020-11-18 |access-date=2023-11-07 |work=CBC News}}</ref> Some of the most controversial cuts including reforming provincial health care—replacing more than one hundred hospital boards with approximately thirty health regions, and ending acute-care in more than fifty rural hospitals—and ending the Gross Revenue Insurance Plan, which had directly supported crop farm incomes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Waiser |title=Saskatchewan |pages=469–471 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Such cuts were seen as disproportionately targeting rural life in the province.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Mandryk |first=Murray |date=2022-04-22 |title=Devine plan: Election 40 years ago brought both scandal and political change |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/devine-election-40-years-ago-brought-both-scandal-and-political-change |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503150102/https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/devine-election-40-years-ago-brought-both-scandal-and-political-change |archive-date=2022-05-03 |access-date=2023-11-07 |work=Regina Leader-Post}}</ref> Moreover, Romanow's governments adopted some of the same tactics the PCs had introduced to pass legislation, including closure when it came to their health care reforms.<ref name=":11">{{Cite book |last=Waiser |title=Saskatchewan |pages=471 |language=en-CA}}</ref> The cuts to programs and services in rural Saskatchewan were deeply unpopular and would prove costly to the NDP in those regions.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":02" /> However, such measures did lead to a balanced budget by 1995, sooner than had been expected and effectively ending concerns about the fiscal crisis.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Waiser |title=Saskatchewan |pages=461 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite book |last=Praud |title=Saskatchewan Politics |last2=McQuarrie |pages=157 |chapter=The Saskatchewan CCF-NDP}}</ref> After 1995, Romanow's government ran successive surpluses and paid the debt down to approximately $10 billion.<ref name=":6" />

==== Re-elections and retirement ====
Romanow led the NDP to a second majority in the [[1995 Saskatchewan general election|1995 provincial election]]. The PCs were reduced to third-party status amid revelations of a major [[Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan#Expense fraud scandal|expense fraud scandal]] stemming from their last term in government, while the Liberals under Lynda Haverstock surged to Opposition status.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wishlow |first=Kevin |url=https://archive.org/details/saskatchewanpoli0000unse |title=Saskatchewan Politics: Into the Twenty-First Century |publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre |year=2001 |isbn=0-88977-131-6 |editor-last=Leeson |editor-first=Howard A. |location=Regina |pages=172 |language=en-CA |chapter=Rethinking the Polarization Thesis: The Formation and Growth of the Saskatchewan Party, 1997–2001 |url-access=registration}}</ref> However, the NDP's seemingly solid grip on government and the growing frustrations of rural regions provided an impetus for a reorganization of conservatives in the province. In 1997, working behind the scenes with members of the federal [[Reform Party of Canada|Reform Party]], four PC MLAs, including new leader [[Bill Boyd (Canadian politician)|Bill Boyd]], and four Liberal MLAs—all from rural ridings—walked away from their parties and established the [[Saskatchewan Party]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=Blake |first=Raymond |title=Saskatchewan Politics: Crowding the Centre |publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre |year=2008 |isbn=9780889772342 |editor-last=Leeson |editor-first=Howard A. |location=[[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] |pages=169&ndash;170 |language=en-CA |chapter=The Saskatchewan Party and the Politics of Branding}}</ref> With eight MLAs, the new party immediately took over Opposition status. In 1998, it chose former Reform MP [[Elwin Hermanson]] as its first leader.<ref name=":62">{{Cite news |last=Briere |first=Karen |date=1998-04-23 |title=Saskatchewan Party elects Hermanson as first leader |url=https://www.producer.com/news/saskatchewan-party-elects-hermanson-as-first-leader/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111170121/https://www.producer.com/news/saskatchewan-party-elects-hermanson-as-first-leader/ |archive-date=2023-11-11 |access-date=2023-11-11 |work=[[The Western Producer]]}}</ref> Romanow framed the new party as an effort to rebrand the moribund Progressive Conservatives and took to referring to them as the "Saskatories".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wishlow |first= |url= |title=Saskatchewan Politics |publisher= |year= |isbn= |editor-last= |editor-first= |location= |pages=171 |language=en-CA |chapter=Formation and Growth of the Saskatchewan Party |url-access=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Foot |first=Richard |date=2016-04-28 |title=Saskatchewan Party |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan-party |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204112041/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan-party |archive-date=2023-02-04 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]}}</ref>

The NDP were widely expected to secure another majority in the [[1999 Saskatchewan general election|1999 provincial election]].<ref name=":13">{{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><ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-05-01 |title=Saskatchewan in the Calvert era: between continuity and change |url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/governance-and-scandal/saskatchewan-in-the-calvert-era-between-continuity-and-change/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408225923/https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/governance-and-scandal/saskatchewan-in-the-calvert-era-between-continuity-and-change/ |archive-date=2024-04-08 |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=Policy Options |publisher=[[Institute for Research on Public Policy]]}}</ref> The party was re-elected to a third consecutive term, but was in fact reduced to a [[minority government|minority of seats]] in the legislature, forcing Romanow to negotiate a [[coalition government]] with the Liberals, an agreement that resulted in appointing three Liberals to [[Cabinet (government)|Cabinet]].<ref name=":16">{{Cite book |last=Wishlow |first= |title=Saskatchewan Politics |pages=177–178 |chapter=Formation and Growth of the Saskatchewan Party}}</ref> This was the result of a strong performance by Hermanson's party—which actually edged the NDP in the popular vote—in rural areas; the Saskatchewan Party won 25 seats, but none in either Regina or Saskatoon. Hermanson capitalized on rural discontent with the NDP, characterizing spending cuts there as the NDP's "rural revenge", putting into stark relief the growing divide between urban and rural voters in the province.<ref name=":11" /> Critics of Romanow's austerity politics pointed to declining party membership and voter engagement as troubling factors in the election.<ref name=":13" />

In 2000, less than a year after the election, Romanow announced that he would be retiring as soon as a successor was chosen by the party.<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 announcement triggered a hotly contested leadership race with seven candidates—a far cry from Romanow's acclimation in 1987—with differing views for the future of the party.<ref name=":15">{{Cite book |last=Praud |title=Saskatchewan Politics |last2=McQuarrie |pages=166 |chapter=The Saskatchewan CCF-NDP}}</ref> Anti-neoliberal candidate [[Nettie Wiebe]] placed third in the 2001 leadership vote, while Romanow's attorney general [[Chris Axworthy]] was defeated on the final ballot by former cabinet minister [[Lorne Calvert]], who was sworn in as premier on February 8, 2001.<ref name=":42">{{Cite book |last=McGrane |first=David |title=Saskatchewan Politics: Crowding the Centre |publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre |year=2008 |isbn=9780889772342 |editor-last=Leeson |editor-first=Howard |location=Regina |pages=155 |language=en-CA |chapter=Which Third Way? A Comparison of the Romanow and Calvert NDP Governments from 1991 to 2007}}</ref> Calvert had campaigned on the party's traditional social democratic values and a commitment to increase social spending. After Romanow's resignation, Calvert also succeeded him as MLA for Saskatoon Riversdale, winning the by-election there on March 19, 2001.<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>

==Life after politics==

===Federal arena===

Jean Chrétien's federal [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]]—a party with which Romanow had worked closely on Patriation in the early 1980s—encouraged Romanow to run for the party, but he declined. He stated that to do so would be a betrayal of the NDP, and he bargained instead for the opportunity to lead a [[Royal commission]] on the future of health care.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenspon |first=Edward |date=2000-09-26 |title=Why Romanow rebuffed Chrétien |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-romanow-rebuffed-chretien/article770045/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615080531/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-romanow-rebuffed-chretien/article770045/ |archive-date=2021-06-15 |access-date=2021-04-14 |work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> Romanow ultimately got his wish, and on April 4 2001, Romanow was appointed to head the [[Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada]] by [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Adrienne Clarkson]], on the advice of Chrétien. The Romanow Report was released in 2002, outlining suggestions to improve the health care system. The Report urged the protection and strengthening of Canada's public health care system, calling for increased federal funding and a Health Charter outlining fundamental health care principles.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-02-01 |title=Romanow – A Defence of Public Health Care, But Is There a Map for the Road Ahead? |url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/canada-us-relations/romanow-a-defence-of-public-health-care-but-is-there-a-map-for-the-road-ahead/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408013122/https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/canada-us-relations/romanow-a-defence-of-public-health-care-but-is-there-a-map-for-the-road-ahead/ |archive-date=2024-04-08 |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=Policy Options |publisher=[[Institute for Research on Public Policy]]}}</ref> The Report has remained influential in health care discussions for decades.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pfrimmer |first=David |date=2020-06-21 |title=We need an ethical compass for fixing long-term care during the COVID-19 crisis |url=https://theconversation.com/we-need-an-ethical-compass-for-fixing-long-term-care-during-the-covid-19-crisis-140119 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630091802/https://theconversation.com/we-need-an-ethical-compass-for-fixing-long-term-care-during-the-covid-19-crisis-140119 |archive-date=2020-06-30 |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]]}}</ref>

In 2003, Romanow 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Roy Romanow B.A., L.L.B. |url=https://library.usask.ca/uasc/campus-history-databases/honorary-degrees/roy-romanow |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408014505/https://library.usask.ca/uasc/campus-history-databases/honorary-degrees/roy-romanow |archive-date=2024-04-08 |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=University of Saskatchewan — Honorary Degree Recipients}}</ref>

===Academic positions and honours===
After retiring from politics, Romanow became a senior policy fellow at the University of Saskatchewan and the [[University of Regina]], as well as a visiting fellow at [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]].<ref name=":1" /> In 2016, he was named Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan, a role he filled until the end of his term in 2019 when he remained a policy fellow at the university.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-10-15 |title=Former premier Roy Romanow named U of S chancellor |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/roy-romanow-appointed-chancellor-uofs-1.3806989 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018155454/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/roy-romanow-appointed-chancellor-uofs-1.3806989 |archive-date=2016-10-18 |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2018-11-23 |title=USask chancellor to step down following completion of term |url=https://news.usask.ca/media-release-pages/2018/usask-chancellor-to-step-down-following-completion-of-term.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207162716/https://news.usask.ca/media-release-pages/2018/usask-chancellor-to-step-down-following-completion-of-term.php |archive-date=2018-12-07 |accessdate=2022-03-01 |work=University of Saskatchewan News |location=}}</ref>

In 2003, Romanow was awarded the [[Saskatchewan Order of Merit]], and in 2004 was made an [[Order of Canada#Officer|Officer]]{{Broken anchor|date=2025-04-19|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Order of Canada#Officer|reason= The anchor (Officer) [[Special:Diff/457590642|has been deleted]].|diff_id=457590642}} of the [[Order of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-09-30 |title=Citizens Receive Province's Highest Honour |url=https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2003/september/30/citizens-receive-provinces-highest-honour |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004195631/https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2003/september/30/citizens-receive-provinces-highest-honour |archive-date=2017-10-04 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Government of Saskatchewan |type=Press release}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-01-28 |title=Writer named to Order of Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/writer-named-to-order-of-canada/article4086682/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408015331/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/writer-named-to-order-of-canada/article4086682/ |archive-date=2024-04-08 |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-11-29 |title=Former Premier Portrait Unveiled |url=https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2005/november/29/former-premier-portrait-unveiled |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004190648/https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2005/november/29/former-premier-portrait-unveiled |archive-date=2017-10-04 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Government of Saskatchewan |type=Press release}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
Romanow's tenure as premier left a divisive legacy. His government inherited a dire fiscal crisis, and their actions are credited with getting the province's finances back in order.<ref name=":6" /> However, the pace at which Romanow's government addressed the problem, and the economic austerity it implemented in order to do so, have been subject to debate.<ref name=":12" /> Critics from the traditional left wing of the NDP like John Conway and John Warnock, along with former leadership candidate Nettie Wiebe, charged Romanow with embracing neoliberalism and effectively betraying the NDP's social democratic tradition.<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Lorne A. |title=Saskatchewan Politics from Left to Right, '44–'99 |last2=Roberts |first2=Joseph K. |last3=Warnock |first3=John W. |publisher=Hinterland Publications |year=1999 |isbn=0-9685886-0-3 |location=Regina |pages=3–4 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Others have conceded that Romanow was more fiscally conservative than would be expected from an NDP leader, but have underscored his commitment to social democratic values. His approach preserved a large activist role for government as well as a social safety net and investments in health care and education.<ref name=":12" /> Howard Leeson, who worked with Romanow in the Blakeney government, wrote that Romanow had a "conservative approach to politics, tempered by a genuine concern for social needs", characterizing him as more of a "[[Red Tory|red tory]]" than a neoliberal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Leeson |first=Howard A. |url=https://archive.org/details/saskatchewanpoli0000unse |title=Saskatchewan Politics: Into the Twenty First Century |publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre |year=2001 |isbn=0-88977-131-6 |editor-last=Leeson |editor-first=Howard A. |location=Regina |publication-date= |pages=9 |language=en-CA |chapter=The Rich Soil of Saskatchewan Politics |url-access=registration}}</ref> Other observers, like historian Bill Waiser and political analyst Dale Eisler, have argued that the globalized economy in which Romanow operated left fewer options than were available to his NDP predecessors, and drastic actions were necessary to deal with the crisis.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":02" />

Ultimately, Romanow's embrace of [[Third Way]] politics signaled an entrenchment of neoliberal economics in the province. David McGrane concluded that, while Romanow's successor Lorne Calvert steered the NDP back further towards the left in terms of social policy, it effectively carried forward its economic legacy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McGrane |title=Crowding the Centre |pages=143 |language=en-CA |chapter=Which Third Way?}}</ref> Even the fledgling conservative Saskatchewan Party found little to criticize with NDP economic policy at the turn of the century, focusing its criticism on the NDP's "management style" rather than its economic ideology.<ref name=":16" /> The other lasting legacy of the Romanow era was a solidification of the rural-urban divide in Saskatchewan. That divide had been widened by the Devine Progressive Conservative government's rural emphasis;<ref>{{Cite book |last=Waiser |first= |url= |title=Saskatchewan |publisher= |year= |isbn= |location= |pages=473 |language=en-CA |url-access=}}</ref> Romanow's austerity, which was seen as disproportionately impacting rural areas, heightened the polarization and made the NDP deeply unpopular there.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Leeson |title=Saskatchewan Politics |pages=10 |language=en-CA |chapter=Rich Soil}}</ref>

== Electoral record ==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|+Electoral history of NDP under Roy Romanow
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background:#eaecf0;" | Year
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="background:#eaecf0;" | Party
! colspan="3" style="background:#eaecf0;" | Votes
! colspan="2" |Seats
! rowspan="2" |Position
|-
! style="background:#eaecf0;" | Total
! style="background:#eaecf0;" | %
! style="background:#eaecf0;" | {{tooltip|2=Change in percentage value since previous election|±%}}
!Total
!±
|-
![[1991 Saskatchewan general election|1991]]
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:{{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP}};"|
| rowspan="5" | [[New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan|NDP]]
|275,780
|51.1%
| +5.9%
|{{Composition bar compact|55|66|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP}}}}
| +29
|{{yes|Majority government}}
|-
![[1995 Saskatchewan general election|1995]]
|193,053
|47.2%
| –3.8%
|{{Composition bar compact|42|58|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP}}}}
| –12
|{{yes|Majority government}}
|-
![[1999 Saskatchewan general election|1999]]
|157,046
|38.7%
| –8.5%
|{{Composition bar compact|29|58|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP}}}}
| –14
|{{yes2|Minority government}}
|-
! colspan="10" style="background:#eaecf0;" |
|}

'''Constituency elections'''
{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1999|Saskatoon Riversdale|percent=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|SK|NDP|'''Roy Romanow'''|3,130|57.89}}
{{CANelec|SK|Saskatchewan|Mark Coderre|1,060|19.60}}
{{CANelec|SK|Liberal|David Pillipow|923|17.07}}
{{CANelec|SK|New Green Alliance|Neil Sinclair|167|3.09}}
{{CANelec|SK|Progressive Conservative|Glenn Schriener|127|2.35}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|5,407|100.00}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1995|Saskatoon Riversdale|percent=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|SK|NDP|'''Roy Romanow'''|3,715|68.18}}
{{CANelec|SK|Liberal|Fred Langford|1,242|22.79}}
{{CANelec|SK|Progressive Conservative|Jordon Cooper|412|7.56}}
{{CANelec|SK|Independent|Eugene Pasap|80|1.47}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|5,449|100.00}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1991|Saskatoon Riversdale|percent=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|SK|NDP|'''Roy Romanow'''|5,254|70.88}}
{{CANelec|SK|Liberal|Gary La Plante|1,398|18.86}}
{{CANelec|SK|Progressive Conservative|Gay Caswell|761|10.27}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|7,413|100.00}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1986|Saskatoon Riversdale|percent=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|SK|NDP|'''Roy Romanow'''|5,490|68.52}}
{{CANelec|SK|Progressive Conservative|Jo-Ann Zazelenchuk|2,114|26.36}}
{{CANelec|SK|Liberal|Bernadine Droesse|408|5.09}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|8,012|100.00}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1982|Saskatoon Riversdale|percent=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|SK|Progressive Conservative|Jo-Ann Zazelenchuk|3,576|47.30}}
{{CANelec|SK|NDP|'''Roy Romanow'''|3,557|47.04}}
{{CANelec|SK|Liberal|Harold Flett|228|3.02}}
{{CANelec|SK|APP|Joe Gallagher|143|1.89}}
{{CANelec|SK|Independent|Alexander V. Barker|57|0.75}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|7,561|100.00}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1978|Saskatoon Riversdale|percent=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|SK|NDP|'''Roy Romanow'''|5,225|64.75}}
{{CANelec|SK|Progressive Conservative|Mary Cherneskey|2,205|27.32}}
{{CANelec|SK|Liberal|Nestor W. Romaniuk|640|7.93}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|8,070|100.00}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1975|Saskatoon Riversdale|percent=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|SK|NDP|'''Roy Romanow'''|4,172|62.42}}
{{CANelec|SK|Progressive Conservative|Gary Barnes|1,551|23.20}}
{{CANelec|SK|Liberal|William Stadnyk|961|14.38}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|6,684|100.00}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1971|Saskatoon Riversdale|percent=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|SK|NDP|'''Roy Romanow'''|9,104|76.79}}
{{CANelec|SK|Liberal|James F. Weber|2,751|23.21}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|11,855|100.00}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|1967|Saskatoon Riversdale|percent=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|SK|NDP|'''Roy Romanow'''|4,888|58.36}}
{{CANelec|SK|Liberal|Margaret Gent|2,327|27.79}}
{{CANelec|SK|Progressive Conservative|Emanuel Sonnenschein|1,160|13.85}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|8,375|100.00}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}
{{end}}

== See also ==

* [[List of premiers of Saskatchewan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.gr.gov.sk.ca/protocol/honours/SOM_romanow.htm Article on Saskatchewan Order of Merit Appointment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051103100245/http://www.gr.gov.sk.ca/Protocol/Honours/SOM_romanow.htm |date=2005-11-03 }}

{{SKPremiers}}
{{Saskatchewan NDP Leaders}}
{{Romanow Ministry}}
{{Blakeney Ministry}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romanow, Roy}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:Attorneys general of Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian King's Counsel]]
[[Category:Lawyers in Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Saskatchewan CCF/NDP]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:Politicians from Saskatoon]]
[[Category:Premiers of Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition of Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Saskatchewan New Democratic Party MLAs]]
[[Category:University of Saskatchewan alumni]]
[[Category:University of Saskatchewan College of Law alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Saskatchewan]]