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SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Tributes

The Honourable Stephen Greene

November 27, 2024


Hon. Scott Tannas [ + ]

Honourable senators, I recently learned that Senator Greene’s favourite movie is Casablanca. It is a masterpiece of moviemaking and one of the most quotable movies in American cinema. As a tribute to my friend and colleague Stephen Greene, I would like to start by adapting this classic line: Of all the upper chambers in all the parliaments in all the world, he walked into ours.

In retrospect, this should have been on the minds of all senators in 2009. We now know, in hindsight, of the contribution this proud Nova Scotian was going to make.

It would be an understatement to say that Senator Greene was a reformer — and not just because he was a candidate for the Reform Party in the 1993 and 1997 elections and was the chief of staff to Preston Manning. He was a small “r” reformer too. Whether at the federal level or with the office of the Premier of Nova Scotia, his role was fixing things that needed attention. In his role in the premier’s office as principal secretary, he had a significant role in fixing the Atlantic Accord in 2006.

This may be controversial to say, but Senator Greene along with his friend Senator Massicotte can be cast as the early architects of today’s new, more modern Senate. In 2015, Senator Greene co-organized the Working Sessions on Senate Modernization that began the serious discussions about changing the Senate. He then moved to being a member of the Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization and appeared as a witness advocating for the conclusions from the working sessions.

When Senator McInnis left the special committee, Senator Greene took over as chair and tabled two reports on proposed changes to how the Senate functions. Many of the new rules we operate under today can be traced back directly to those early days in 2015 and those now-famous working sessions.

I must note that Senator Greene was part of the original 11 members who founded the Canadian Senators Group. His participation was crucial in forming the nucleus of members and to “Round up the usual suspects.” For those who are too young, that is another Casablanca quote. He served with distinction as our deputy liaison.

Honourable senators, when we all walk into this chamber for the first time, like it or not, the thought crosses all of our minds of what impact we will have on this place, the politics and the country. For a lucky few, the impact we make will turn into a long-lasting legacy that will survive the test of time.

Stephen, as you depart this place for the last time, just remember that you left your mark, and you leave a true, virtuous and positive legacy. The Senate will not be the same without you, and as you make your exit from politics, “Here’s looking at you kid.”

Senator Tannas [ + ]

On behalf of your colleagues here in the Canadian Senators Group who surround you, we honour you and Shami — who, by the way, in the last while has become a true family member of the Senate — and we wish you both a happy retirement.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) [ + ]

Senator Tannas, you’re always a hard act to follow.

Honourable senators, my favourite movie is The Godfather, and you’ll remember the scene when Robert Duvall playing Tom Hagen is sent off to make a request of a movie producer. He’s turned down, and he decides to go right back because the Godfather always liked to hear the bad news right away. The bad news, colleagues, is that Senator Greene is leaving us, and that is a really great loss.

That is the best I can do, Scott, and it’s a pale imitation of you.

It is with mixed feelings and a certain tristesse that I rise on behalf of the Government Representative Office, or GRO, to pay tribute to our friend and colleague the Honourable Stephen Greene.

Senator Greene has had an exemplary career, spanning both business and public service at the federal and provincial levels. Beginning his professional life at the Canadian embassy, he went on to work in numerous other positions, including in the Foreign Service, and, as Senator Tannas mentioned, as Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Reform Party of Canada Preston Manning, as Principal Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier of Nova Scotia Rodney MacDonald, and, finally, here with us as a senator, where, once again, he has put his depth of experience and wisdom to very good use for the people of Nova Scotia and Canada.

During his time in the chamber, he has sat on far too many committees to name now, but, following Senator Tannas, I would like to focus on his work as Chair of the Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization. Throughout his time here, he has been committed to modernizing the Senate to be a more effective institution and to better serve all Canadians. That commitment was clearly evident in the work he did leading up to the Committee on Modernization and his work on the reports as well, as was already mentioned. They were pivotal.

Senator Greene, I arrived in the Senate as one of an early wave of senators appointed in the new system, and I arrived with you and many other of your colleagues — some of whom are still here, but many of whom have departed — who were veterans of this place. You were not the only one who impressed me with your devotion to this place and to Canadians, but you stood out, and I think we mentioned our colleague as well. Despite your partisanship and strongly held views, you saw the necessity of working together with senators — veteran and newly arrived — to see how we could make this place better.

To me, that exemplifies the best about this place: that you’ve approached your work as a gentle and noble person with strongly held views. You and I haven’t always agreed on policy issues. You’re a little bit more libertarian than perhaps I am, but I deeply appreciate you, your independence and your integrity. You will be missed. On behalf of the GRO, I wish you all the best for a well-deserved retirement.

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition) [ + ]

Honourable senators, my favourite movie is True Lies.

Colleagues, on behalf of myself and the entire opposition in the Senate, I also rise today to acknowledge the retirement of Senator Stephen Greene. Following a successful career both in the fishing industry and, of course, in the Foreign Service — and, indeed, in the Conservative movement — Senator Greene was appointed on the advice of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper in 2009 to represent the people of Nova Scotia in this chamber and as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Despite being originally from Montreal, our colleague has gradually but surely built a deep personal connection to the province that he chose to call home. As he noted in his maiden speech, “Nova Scotia is my province by choice, not by birth.”

One of the hallmarks of Senator Greene’s career has been his unwavering commitment to Senate reform. Perhaps this may come as a surprise to some of you, but Senate reforms did not begin with the arrival of Justin Trudeau. They had begun earlier, with the arrival of Stephen Greene. Our colleague Stephen Greene has been a vocal proponent of making the Senate more transparent, more accountable and more effective. Senator Greene has consistently argued that the Senate should better reflect the democratic will of Canadians and operate with greater efficiency.

On a note of levity, at the time of his appointment and for a period thereafter, Senator Greene, colleagues, was a member of the Conservative caucus. It is somewhat ironic that today he is a member of the Canadian Senators Group alongside Senator Smith, who removed him from the Conservative caucus in 2017. I don’t know whether this was intentional planning or not.

Stephen, I know you’ve experienced some difficult issues during the past year. I want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you as you move on to your next phase of life.

Colleagues, Senator Greene has always been a man of few words, so on that note, senator, I wish you well.

Honourable senators, today I rise on behalf of the Independent Senators Group and as a colleague and good friend of Senator Stephen Greene to recognize his retirement.

Senator Greene is a man who has left a lasting mark on this institution, not just through his words but through concrete actions that have driven meaningful change and strengthened the Senate’s role in serving Canadians.

Senator Greene’s time in the Senate has been defined by his unwavering commitment to reform and modernization. His steadfast belief in the potential of the Senate to better serve Canadians has driven much of his work. Whether advocating for an end to institutionalized partisanship or challenging the status quo, Senator Greene demonstrated what it truly means to be a senator, which is a willingness to put the public good above political comfort, even when it comes at a cost.

For years, Senator Greene has been a leading voice on Senate modernization, proving that progress is possible when senators work across ideological lines. It wasn’t just a file for him; it was a mission. His collaboration with colleagues from all sides of this chamber was a testament to his belief that our strength lies in our diversity of thought and that this strength can be harnessed for the benefit of Canadians.

Of course, reform is never without resistance. Senator Greene’s determination to challenge entrenched partisanship in the Senate led him to take the bold step of leaving his political group. He chose principles over convenience, a decision that speaks volumes about his character. It’s not every day that someone willingly walks away from the safety of party lines, but, then again, Senator Greene has never been one for half measures.

Senator Greene and I have had our fair share of debates — constructive ones, of course — on how best to modernize the Senate. While I can’t say that we always agreed, I will say this: Working with him was like having a crash course in persistence. He doesn’t just believe in reform; he embodies it.

Beyond modernization, his work on issues like airport competitiveness and regional equity has been a reminder that this chamber has the potential to tackle the everyday challenges Canadians face. His advocacy was never just about theory; it was about practical solutions that made sense for families, businesses and communities.

Stephen, as you step away from this chamber, I hope you take with you the knowledge that your work has mattered — as senators have just noted — not just to this institution but to the Canadians it serves.

Thank you, my good friend, for your advice, your dedication and your enduring example of what it means to put Canadians first. I love you.

Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond [ + ]

Honourable senators, on behalf of the independent senators of the Progressive Senate Group, I have the pleasure of paying tribute to Senator Greene.

Senator Greene has travelled a winding yet principled path during his time serving Canadians here. In his first speech in this chamber, he said:

I believe, first and foremost, in ideas. I do not care where they come from or who gives them to me. Sometimes this makes me more bipartisan than partisan.

Appointed as a Conservative in 2008, Senator Greene introduced himself to the chamber as “. . . a recovering member of the Reform Party of Canada.”

In 2016, early in the independent reform, he became the first Conservative senator to sponsor government legislation — Senator Harder will remember — with Bill S-4, tax agreements regarding Israel and Taiwan. As sponsor, he said:

I’m honoured to be among the first of, I hope, many senators who, despite their general disagreement with the current government, which I share, are willing to recognize good ideas and policies when they see them by sponsoring government legislation in this place when they have no policy objections that would prevent them from doing so.

That was a courageous declaration that would lead him to sit as a non-affiliated senator, to be followed by a few years as a member of the Independent Senators Group before becoming a founding member of the Canadian Senators Group.

His independent spirit led to his collaboration with then-Liberal Senator Massicotte, with whom he embarked on a quest to encourage and promote Senate reform. They sent out questionnaires, hosted lively discussions and collated responses to identify subjects with the most consensus.

In a 2017 op-ed, he summarized his evolving vision of the Senate as follows:

Canadian democracy needs a well-functioning upper house that is free of partisan shackles. It can’t be a copycat of the House of Commons. It must have a legislative role that is distinctive and valuable. But, because of its unelected nature, it must also act with restraint.

I must say that I agree with him.

Senator Greene demonstrated with actions — not just words — that staying true to oneself in service to one’s province and country should override partisanship. That’s an impressive legacy and a lesson that he leaves to all of us.

On behalf of the Progressive Senate Group, I wish you the very best in your retirement, Senator Greene — all the best.

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