Item VT R-12354 - Signing of International Agreement of Rafferty and Alameda Dams at U.S. Capital

Donald Grant Devine was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on July 5, 1944 to Donald William Devine and Bette Jean Ford. He has one sister and two brothers. He was raised on the family farm near Lake Valley, Saskatchewan and attended Brownlee School.

In 1967, Devine obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan. He also earned Masters degrees in Agricultural Economics and Business Administration from the University of Alberta in 1970. After graduating, Devine worked as a marketing specialist with the Department of Agriculture in Ottawa, Ontario. In 1976, he earned a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Ohio State University and joined the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan, where he taught Agricultural Marketing and Consumer Economics.

Devine's political career began in 1978, when he ran unsuccessfully in the Saskatoon Nutana constituency. He also lost a 1980 by-election in the Estevan constituency. Devine was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan on November 9, 1979. He was elected 12th premier of Saskatchewan and MLA for the Estevan constituency in the April 26, 1982 general election. Devine's term as premier dated from May 8, 1982 to November 1, 1991.

Devine held various Cabinet portfolios while serving as Premier: Minister of Energy and Mines (1983); Minister of Highways and Transportation (1985); Minister of Agriculture (1985-1989) and Minister of Agriculture and Food (1989-1991). He was also Minister Responsible for numerous agencies, boards and commissions.

Devine stepped down as leader of the Conservative party on October 8, 1992 and did not seek re-election in 1995. Larry Campbell Ward (NDP) was elected MLA for the Estevan constituency.

Upon retiring from politics, Devine returned to teaching at the University of Saskatchewan. He also operated Grant Devine Farms and Consulting Services Ltd. and served on the board of directors of Agrium Inc. In January 2004 after an unsuccessful bid as the federal Conservative party candidate for the riding of Souris-Moose Mountain, Devine ran as an independent in that riding and was defeated in the 2004 federal election.

Devine currently (2009) farms near Caron, Saskatchewan.

Grant Devine married Chantal Guillaume, a teacher, in 1966. They have five children: Michelle, Monique, David, John and Camille.