John Diefenbaker/Quotes

John Diefenbaker was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 13th Prime Minister of Canada. He served from 1957-1963.
== Quotes about Diefenbaker ==
* "Canada has lost a man of great stature. He never wavered. He was unfailing in his loyalty to his country and the crown."
**Queen Elizabeth II, August 1979.The Darling Diaries: Memoirs of a Political Career - Stan Darling & Beth Slaney - 1996 - Dundurn - Page 149
* "... It is fitting that one of our first functions in the new Parliament be to remember him, in the context which he loved the most. This house was his working home, politically, intellectually, and emotionally. It was courtroom hustings and family parlour all rolled into one. Almost forty years is an extraordinarily long time to remain in the nest. Even more extraordinary is the manner the right honourable gentleman continued to contribute to this house. Members came and went; were exalted or diminished; performed, or languished. But John Diefenbaker marched right along, never missing a step, never missing an opportunity."
**Pierre Elliott Trudeau, eulogy delivered in Parliament, 9 October, 1979.House of Commons Debates – October 9, 1979 - House of Commons Proceedings - CPAC - Retrieved 6 October 2020
* "... His strongly held beliefs, ideals, and antagonisms were not always shared, but his vigour in holding them was greatly admired. He was more than just a public man. He didn't simply touch a person, he got inside them. Indeed, some may say he got under their skin. He was part of this chamber, in an almost unnatural sort of way. Even when he didn't speak, you knew he was here. And when he wasn't here, people would go along wondering, 'What would Dief have said?' I don't know about the other members, but I have the uneasy feeling that he is still part of this place. Just this morning as I was speaking my thoughts on the role of the Opposition... I half looked over the other side, expecting to see him shaking his finger at me and thundering, 'Never has there been such a conversion since Saul on the road to Damascus.' He sometimes mentioned to me the loneliness of being the only surviving former Prime Minister, and seemed sincerely keen to have some company. I now know how he felt, and I sincerely share his keenness. It is sad that John Diefenbaker is not here today, Mr. Speaker, and we shall miss him, but just speaking of the impact he made on Canadians in this house, is a happy tribute to a person who knew the joy and satisfaction of doing what he wanted to do with his life, and doing it to the best of his ability. What more can any of us wish, as a record of our own ambitions and achievements. So on behalf of the Official Opposition, we extend our sympathy to his family. They can treasure the memory of his career, and take comfort from the rich life which he and Mrs. Diefenbaker enjoyed together."
**Pierre Elliott Trudeau, eulogy delivered in Parliament, 9 October, 1979.
* "With nearly 40 years as a member of Parliament, including almost six as prime minister, John Diefenbaker dedicated his life to serving Canadians. Some of his decisions as PM still inspire us to this day and have shaped our country for the better. His government ushered in the Canadian Bill of Rights and granted the right to vote to First Nations, and he appointed the first female minister to cabinet and the first First Nations senator. Both my father and grandfather were in politics at the same time as he was, and I know they had mutual respect, despite political differences. They also had the same goal: make our great country even better."
** Justin Trudeau, 23rd Prime Minister of Canada.Diefenbaker left his mark on politics, Canada - Arthur Milnes - 18 September 2020 - The Kingston Whig-Standard - Retrieved 6 October 2020
== Links ==
* John Diefenbaker on Wikiquote
== References ==
Category:Quotes
Category:Quotes of real people
Category:Quotes of prime ministers
Category:Quotes of Canadian Prime Ministers