John Diefenbaker: An Appointment with Destiny

Ian A. Andrews is editor of the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association’s Focus and co-author of Becoming a Teacher.

According to biographer Arthur Slade, former Prime Minister John
Diefenbaker was involved in a love–hate relationship with the Canadian
populace. The populist leader (a.k.a. “Dief the Chief”) was the
darling of the “common man” in the late 1950s, but his star had
waned by the next decade. His decision to cancel the Avro Arrow
contract, the failure of his monetary policies, and disagreement within
his own Cabinet over nuclear weapons on Canadian soil, led to the
defrocking of an icon, a situation that was engineered by insiders
within his own party and headed by Dalton Camp. Slade acts as an
apologist for Diefenbaker throughout the book. He explains why the
nationally respected lawyer from Prince Albert took the actions he did,
even though many of these actions were unpopular. Diefenbaker’s love
for his family and roots, as well as his optimistic vision of Canada’s
North, come through strongly.

This intriguing biography introduces young-adult readers to an
important personality in the colorful history of Canadian prime
ministers. Highly recommended.