John George Diefenbaker, often referred to as “Dief the Chief,” served as the 13th Prime Minister of Canada from 1957 to 1963.
Key points of his tenure:
- Progressive Conservative: Diefenbaker was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, ending 22 years of Liberal rule.
- Bill of Rights: He introduced the Canadian Bill of Rights in 1960, a federal statute to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.
- Cancellation of the Avro Arrow: A controversial decision during his term was the cancellation of the Avro Arrow project, a Canadian supersonic jet interceptor.
- Nuclear weapons debate: Diefenbaker’s government faced internal divisions and public controversy over whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons. This ultimately contributed to the fall of his government.
- Indigenous rights: Diefenbaker’s government extended voting rights to Indigenous peoples in federal elections.
10 Fascinating Quotes By John Diefenbaker
1. I was criticized for being too much concerned with the average Canadians. I can’t help that; I am one of them!
2. There can be no dedication to Canada’s future without a knowledge of its past.
3. I am the first prime minister of this country of neither English nor French origin. So I determined to bring about a Canadian citizenship that knew no hyphenated consideration….I’m very happy to be able to say that in the House of Commons today in my party we have members of Italian, Dutch, German, Scandinavian, Chinese and Ukrainian origin and they are all Canadians.
4. Freedom includes the right to say what others may object to and resent… The essence of citizenship is to be tolerant of strong and provocative words.
5. When you come to Parliament on your first day, you wonder how you ever got here. After that, you wonder how the other 263 members got here.
6. I have one love – Canada; one purpose – Canada’s greatness; one aim – Canadian unity from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
7. I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.
8. In Pierre Trudeau, Canada has finally produced a Prime Minister worthy of assassination.
9. We must vigilantly stand on guard within our own borders for human rights and fundamental freedoms which are our proud heritage……w e cannot take for granted the continuance and maintenance of those rights and freedoms.
10. What is the difference between a cactus and a conservative caucus? On a cactus, the pricks are on the outside.
Conclusion:
Diefenbaker’s time as prime minister was marked by both successes and challenges. He was a skilled orator and passionate defender of Canadian interests, but his leadership style was often described as divisive and autocratic.
Fatima Miller