Joe Greene (Ontario politician)

The Honorable
Joe Greene
PC, DFC, QC
Senator for Niagara, Ontario
In office
September 1, 1972 – October 23, 1978
Appointed by Pierre Trudeau
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Renfrew South
In office
1963–1968
Preceded by James William Baskin
Succeeded by Electoral district abolished
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Niagara Falls
In office
1968–1972
Preceded by Judy LaMarsh
Succeeded by Joe Hueglin
Personal details
Born John James Greene
(1920-06-24)June 24, 1920
Toronto, Ontario
Died October 23, 1978(1978-10-23) (aged 58)
Ottawa, Ontario
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Corinne Bedore
Cabinet Minister of Agriculture (1965-1968)
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources (1968-1972)
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross, Mentioned in dispatches
Military service
Allegiance Canada
Service/branch Royal Canadian Air Force
Years of service 1941–1945
Rank Flight Lieutenant

John James "Joe" Greene, PC, DFC, QC (June 24, 1920 – October 23, 1978) was a Canadian politician.[1]

Life and career

Greene was born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Andrée (née Charpagnol) and Peter Greene.[2] He grew up in Toronto before finding work in northern Ontario as a mine worker.[3]

During World War II, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in which he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.[1] Following the war, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a law degree from Osgoode Hall. He began practice in Toronto, establishing a law firm in Arnprior, Ontario[2] in 1949. In 1948, he married Corinne Bedore.[2]

He ran for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party in 1958, placing a poor third at the party's leadership convention.

He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal in the 1963 general election.[1] In 1964, he ran again for the leadership of the Ontario Liberals, placing fourth.

In 1965, he became Minister of Agriculture in the cabinet of Lester Pearson,[1] one of the few non-farmers to hold the position and the first easterner in 54 years. In 1968, he ran to succeed Pearson in that year's federal Liberal leadership convention, but despite giving what many say was the best speech, he came in fifth place. After three ballots, he threw his support to Pierre Trudeau, contributing towards his victory.[3] The new Prime Minister made Greene Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.[1]

Greene moved to the riding of Niagara Falls, Ontario in the 1968 election, and was again elected to Parliament. As energy minister,[1] Greene prevented the sale of both the largest oil company under Canadian control and Canada's largest uranium producer to Americans.

Greene suffered a heart attack in 1969, and was required to take a temporary leave of absence from parliament. Otto Lang served as the acting minister of Energy, Mines and Resources in this period.[4] Green later suffered a stroke in late 1971. Greene retired from cabinet in January 1972 when he was appointed to the Canadian Senate.[1]

He died in 1978, aged 58.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Joe Greene – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. 1 2 3 Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament, 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
  3. 1 2 Francis, Lloyd (2000). Ottawa boy: an autobiography. General Store Publishing House. pp. 96–7. ISBN 1-894263-30-8. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  4. ↑ Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 1969, p. 15
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
James William Baskin		 Member of Parliament from Renfrew South
1963–1968 		Succeeded by
The electoral district was abolished in 1966.
Preceded by
Judy LaMarsh		 Member of Parliament from Niagara Falls
1968–1972 		Succeeded by
Joe Hueglin
Political offices
Preceded by
Harry Hays		 Minister of Agriculture
1965–1968 		Succeeded by
Bud Olson
Preceded by
Jean-Luc Pepin		 Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
1968–1972 		Succeeded by
Donald Stovel Macdonald
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