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Introduction
Alone at the Top
The Path to Power
Leading Canada
Private Life
Afterwards
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Profiles
Speeches
Comments
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John George Diefenbaker banner
John George Diefenbaker.

Quick Facts

1895 - 1979

Term(s) of Office:
June 21, 1957 - April 22, 1963

Born

  • September 18, 1895, Neustadt, Ontario

Education

  • University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, B.A. 1915, M.A. Political Science and Economics 1916, LL.B. 1919

Personal Life

  • Married 1929, Edna Brower (1901 - 1951)
  • Re-married 1953, Olive Palmer (1902 - 1976)
  • One stepdaughter

Occupations

  • 1916 - 1917 Lieutenant, 105th Saskatoon Fusiliers
  • Criminal lawyer (called to the Saskatchewan Bar in 1919)
  • 1936 - 1938 Leader, Saskatchewan, Conservative Party

Political Party

  • Progressive Conservative
  • 1956 - 1967 Party Leader

Constituencies

  • 1940 - 1953 Lake Center, Saskatchewan
  • 1953 - 1979 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Other Ministries

  • 1957 External Affairs
  • 1959 External Affairs (Acting)
  • 1962-1963 President of the Privy Council

Political Record

  • Leader of the Opposition 1956 - 1957
  • Appointed Ellen Fairclough first woman Cabinet minister
  • Canadian Bill of Rights 1958
  • Appointed James Gladstone Canada's first Aboriginal senator 1958
  • Franchise extended to all Aboriginal peoples, 1960
  • Royal Commission on Health Services 1961
  • Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development Act 1961
  • Created the National Productivity Council (Economic Council of Canada) 1963
  • Leader of the Opposition 1963 - 1967

Died

  • August 16, 1979, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Grave site: Beside the Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Source: Canada's Prime Ministers, 1867 - 1994. [Ottawa]: National Archives of Canada, c1994. 20 p.

Diefenbaker: main page



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