‘It’s amazing how time flies’: Senator Nancy Greene Raine set to retire

May 10, 2018 | 11:36 AM

KAMLOOPS — “It’s amazing how fast time flies.”

The words of Conservative Senator Nancy Greene Raine on her impending mandatory retirement at the age of 75 on Friday.

Greene Raine was appointed to the Senate by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and first sat in the red chamber in January of 2009.

“Suddenly it’s (retirement) on me. I’ve really enjoyed the job and it really has been a job. It’s not really fun, it’s a lot of work but it’s been great,” she told CFJC Today. “And I look around the chamber and I realize I’ve made some very good friends here so it’s a bit sad to be leaving.”

Greene Raine has been involved in some very important debates, including discussions surrounding assisted suicide and the legalization of marijuana, but says perhaps her biggest highlight was her child health bill aimed prohibiting the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children.

The bill, B S-228 was returned to the House of Commons this spring for third reading.

“If I am to have a legacy, S-228 is a bit of a game changer, so that would be something. I’ve worked very hard on the health and fitness file in the last few years so this has been interesting.”

Greene Raine says her work in that field has included being involved in the creation of National Health and Fitness Day across Canada, including in Kamloops.

So, what will retirement look like for her?

“I’ll work on my golf, tennis, cycling and spending more time with the grandchildren. Certainly staying at Sun Peaks and I’ll ski more.”

She actually calls it semi-retirement because she plans to keep an eye on B S-228.

B.C’s Conservative caucus will celebrate her retirement in Kamloops at a party open to the public May 17.