Canadian Political History: Diefenbaker Presentation, ARB 301

This presentation focuses on John Diefenbaker, Canada's 13th Prime Minister, exploring his life, political career, and significant achievements. The presentation details his background, including his family's origins and early life. It highlights his key accomplishments, such as championing the Canadian Bill of Rights, extending voting rights to First Nations, and his role in the anti-apartheid movement. The presentation also examines his political record, emphasizing his focus on the rights of indigenous people and his criticisms of the Liberal party. It also addresses criticisms he faced, such as those related to unemployment and the Avro Arrow project cancellation. The analysis concludes with an assessment of his political legacy, emphasizing his effectiveness in achieving his political ambitions and his impact on Canadian society. The presentation references sources such as Canada Info and The Canadian Encyclopedia to support its claims.

John George Diefenbaker -
Canada's 13th Prime Minister
Presenter

Background
• Born in September 18 1895.
• Diefenbaker was part of a contingent of 300 junior officers
sent to Britain for pre-deployment training
• Hus father was of German immigrant origin while the mother
was of Scottish origin.
• Was prime minister between 1975-1963.
• Was the first indigenous member of the first nations to hold
the position of the prime minister.

Achievements
• He championed for Canadian Bill of Rights and the extension of vote
to the first nations.
• Played an important role in the anti-apartheid movement in South
Africa which led to the end of the commonwealth in the country.
• He opposed the Pearson's proposal for a new Canadian flag in 1964.
• He appointed Ellen Fairclough as the first woman to be a cabinet
minister.
• He ensured that franchise was extended to all indigenous
communities.

Political record
• His work was different from the rest of the prime ministers
since his focus was on the rights of the indigenous people.
• His political idea was for the average Canadian and ethnic
minorities.
• He criticized the liberals in all his time due to their policies
and how they affected Canadians.
• The policies that he championed were radical and contrary to
the conservative traditions.

Criticisms
• He was criticized for causing high unemployment and
devaluation of the dollar.
• He was criticized for the cancelation of the Avro Arrow
project which led to Tories' popularity.
• His radical approach to politics alienated the party

Analysis
• From his political work, he can be defined as effectively
achieving his political ambition.
• He is credited with the achievement of the voting rights for the
first nations which had been denied to them for long.
• His radical approach to politics was not to follow the ideals of the
party but rather to meet the needs of the ordinary Canadians.
• His work can thus be said as different from both the liberal and
the Canadian ideals although he had several shortcomings.

References
• Canada Info. (2020). The Right Honourable John
Diefenbaker. Retrieved from The Right Honourable John
Diefenbaker:
http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/government/diefenbaker
.html
• Williams, P., & Marshall, T. (2015, March 4). John
Diefenbaker. Retrieved from The Canadian Encyclopedia:
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/john-
diefenbaker