Joe Greene

Who was Joe Greene?

John James "Joe" Greene, PC, DFC, QC was a Canadian politician.

Born in Toronto, the son of Peter and Andrée Greene, Joe 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 began practice in Toronto, establishing a law firm in Arnprior, Ontario in 1949. In 1948, he married Corinne Bedore.

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.