James Colin Ramsey Kenny (born December 10, 1943) is a former Canadian Senator. A member of the Liberal Party, he was appointed to the Senate in 1984 by Pierre Trudeau to represent the Rideau region of Ontario. On January 31, 2018 it was announced that Kenny had informed the Speaker of the Senate that he would be retiring effective February 2, 2018, ten months ahead of his scheduled retirement date, due to ill health. Early life and career James Colin Ramsey Kenny was born in Montreal, Quebec on December 10, 1943 to a wealthy Rockliffe family. His stepfather Roy H. Hyndman was the final president of Charles Ogilvy Ltd. a major Ottawa department store. Kenny received his high school education at Bishop's College School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966 from Norwich University. In 1967, he received a Public Service Fellowship from the Tuck School of Business. Political career Kenny's political career began in 1968 when he served as executive director of the Liberal Party of Canada in Ontario, a post he would hold until 1970. He worked in the Pierre Trudeau's Prime Minister's Office from 1969 until 1979, rising from special assistant to take up such roles as director of operations, policy advisor, and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister. Following the Liberal government's defeat in the 1979 election, he worked as an executive with Dome Petroleum, until being appointed to the Senate on the recommendation of Trudeau in 1984. As a member of the Upper House, Kenny has been active in writing anti-smoking legislation and legislation encouraging the use of alternative fuels. He has also represented Canada as a delegate to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The SCONSAD reports examine areas of national security and defence, including airports, seaports, border crossings, coasts, Emergency Preparedness, and the Canadian Forces. In the 35th Parliament, Kenny was the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources from 1994 to 1997. In the same parliament, he chaired the Senate Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration from 1995 until 1997. In the 36th Parliament, Kenny was the chair of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration from 1999 to 2000. Kenny also served as Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs from 2000 during 36th