By Ashley Wills

Blakeney remembered at memorial

May 7, 2011 | 9:50 PM

Former Premier Allan Blakeney's life was celebrated Saturday at a memorial service in Regina.

Past and present premiers – no matter their stance politically – paid tribute to the man many call a 'modern Father of Confederation.'

Former Ontario Premier and current Liberal MP, Bob Rae, says Blakeney challenged him to not just give opinions, but to explain them.

“He reminded me of an Oxford professor who once said to me 'There's a big difference between saying something and proving something' Allan knew that very well.”

Premier Wall described Blakeney as a defender; through the turbulent federal-provincial relationship of the 1970's when the national energy program was proposed.

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“He was one of few who could parry and thrust with the likes of Pierre Elliot Trudeau”

Former Premier Roy Romanow was with Blakeney before his death. He told Romanow that his greatest accomplishment was Medicare because it serves humanity in a real way.

Blakeney served as Premier from 1971 to 1982. He played a key role in bringing medicare to Saskatchewan — serving as health minister when the program was created. He was also a key figure in constitutional debates in the 1980s

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