Former Saskatchewan premier Lorne Calvert spent his last day in the legislature May 14, nearly 23 years after he first arrived.
A day earlier, he submitted his letter of resignation, effective June 30, to the speaker. He took over as principal of St. Andrew’s College at the University of Saskatchewan the next day.
Government and opposition members paid tribute to Calvert during the final day of the spring sitting.
Long-time colleague Pat Atkinson described him as “a kind, principled, honourable man who showed great humility in his triumphs and bore so many undeserved slings and arrows with grace.”
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Premier Brad Wall credited the Calvert government with setting the stage for the province’s current prosperity. He used the humourous example of the animated cartoon characters Ralph and Sam, the sheepdog and coyote who fought each other every day but left as friends and returned to do it again.
Calvert, 56, was first elected in Moose Jaw in 1986, stepped down in 1999 and returned as leader in 2001.
He led the NDP to an unexpected victory in 2003 and a loss of 2007.
He recounted meeting celebrities and royalty and celebrating Saskatchewan accomplishments.
“How does this work, that in some ways the most unlikely candidate for political office – never mind high political office – the almost accidental tourist, the son of a lumberyard worker from the south hill of Moose Jaw, how could all of this opportunity have happened?” he said. “Because of democracy, this institution, our party process.”
The NDP elects a new leader June 6.
