Romanow He also was a crucial figure in negotiations in 1981 to patriate Canada’s Constitution that entrenched the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
As attorney general and deputy premier of Saskatchewan from 1971 to 1982 he initiated many justice reforms, including introducing a legal aid plan, and creating the province’s first Human Rights Code and Human Rights Commission.
Serving for a decade as premier until he retired in 2001, he was active in constitutional discussions leading to the 1993 Charlottetown Accord. He also was a leader in the social union negotiations that led to the creation of the National Child Benefit and the Social Union Framework Agreement.
Romanow received the 2003 Pan-American Health Organization Award for excellence and leadership, particularly for creating the provincial human rights commission and for his role as lead commissioner on the health care commission.