Previous prime ministers had concerned themselves with the settlement of French and English culture in Canada, John Diefenbaker aspired to include those of other ethnic origins in the national identity. In addition, he drew attention to the rights of Canada's native population. Under his leadership as prime minister, Canada's Aboriginal peoples were allowed to vote federally for the first time, and James Gladstone, a member of the Blood tribe was the first native person appointed to the Senate.
He met with failure and opposition many times in his life, but never let it prevent him from pursuing his goals. John George Diefenbaker was born in Neustadt, Ontario in 1895; his parents were of German and Scottish descent. John’s family moved to Fort Carlton, north of Saskatoon in 1903 where the Diefenbaker’s made their home. John's father taught school and encouraged his sons to read. At a young age, Diefenbaker read a book about Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier and decided that someday he too would lead Canada. Diefenbaker attended the University of Saskatchewan in 1915 and an M.A. in political science and economics in 1916. He enlisted in the army in 1916 and served briefly in Britain, before being sent home the following year. Returning to university to study law, he graduated with an LL.B. in 1919. He set up a law practice in Wakaw near Prince Albert. Diefenbaker quickly established himself as a successful criminal lawyer for over twenty years.
Diefenbaker had not forgotten his political ambitions. However his attempts to enter politics at any level originally met with failure. He ran for a seat in the House of Commons in 1925 and 1926, but lost. He then tried the provincial legislature in 1929 and 1938, no luck. His attempt to run for mayor of Prince Albert in 1933 also failed. Diefenbaker was elected leader of the Conservative party of Saskatchewan in 1936, but the party won no seats in the 1938 election. Finally in the 1940 election, he won a...