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