Allan Blakeney believed in government as a force for good. As premier of Saskatchewan, he promoted social justice through government intervention in the economy and the welfare state. He created legal and constitutional structures that guaranteed strong human rights, and he safeguarded the integrity of the voting system to support a robust democracy. Blakeney encouraged excellence in public administration to deliver the best possible services and used taxes to help secure equality of opportunity. 

In Back to Blakeney, a diverse set of scholars reflects on Blakeney’s achievements, as well as his constitutional legacy—namely, the notwithstanding clause—and explores the challenges facing democracy today.  

“I can think of no other biographical work in this country that is so competent in its multi-faceted approach to its subject.” —David Edward Smith, author of The Constitution in a Hall of Mirrors: Canada at 150

Contributors: Michael Atkinson (University of Saskatchewan), Simone Chambers (University of California Irvine), David Coletto (Carleton University), John Courtney (University of Saskatchewan), Alex Himelfarb (University of Toronto), Russell Isinger (University of Saskatchewan), Gregory P. Marchildon (University of Toronto), David McGrane (University of Saskatchewan), Dwight Newman (University of Saskatchewan), Roy Romanow (Chancellor, University of Saskatchewan), Melanee Thomas (University of Calgary), Katherine Walker (University of British Columbia), Reg Whitaker (University of Victoria), John Whyte (University of Regina), Nelson Wiseman (University of Toronto)

David McGrane is associate professor of political studies at St Thomas More College at the University of Saskatchewan and the editor of New Directions in Saskatchewan Public Policy.

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John Whyte taught law and served as Dean of Law at Queen's University. He served as Saskatchewan's Director of Constitutional Law during Canada's constitutional patriation process and later served as Saskatchewan's Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister of Justice. 

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Roy Romanow served as Premier of Saskatchewan from 1991 to 2001. He is currently Chancellor of University of Saskatchewan. He lives in Saskatoon.

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