Joe Greene (politician)

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

Greene grew up in Toronto before finding work in northern Ontario as a mine worker. During World War II, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in which he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. Following the war, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a law degree from Osgoode Hall. He established a law firm in Arnprior, Ontario in 1949.

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. 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, 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. The new Prime Minister made Greene Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.

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

He suffered a heart attack in 1969 and then a stroke in late 1971. He retired from cabinet in January 1972 when he was appointed to the Canadian Senate.

External links

* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/bio.asp?lang=E&query=1018&s=M Political biography from the Library of Parliament]

s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament from Renfrew South
years=1963–1968s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament from Niagara Falls
years=1968–1972s-ttl|title=Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
years=1968–1972