 Born in Mount Forest, Ontario, Calder first became a Liberal candidate in 1988, unsuccessfully contesting the Wellington—Grey—Dufferin—Simcoe electoral district.His second attempt in the 1993 election was successful, defeating Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Perrin Beatty, making him a member of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's government in the 35th Canadian Parliament.He won in the 1997 and 2000 national elections in the redistributed Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey riding.