A Canadian foundation that defends Western values has released a new book about Saskatchewan's Progressive Conservative prime minister that remembers him as a "freedom fighter."
The Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy is announcing the release of its newest book, Freedom Fighter: John Diefenbaker’s Battle for Canadian Liberties and Independence, authored by bestselling author Bob Plamondon and featuring a foreword by former prime minister Jean Chrétien.
This timely book explores Diefenbaker’s remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of Canada’s most significant prime ministers.
With fresh insights from unpublished archival materials, Plamondon sheds light on Diefenbaker’s fierce commitment to freedom and equality of opportunity for all Canadians. Canada's 13th prime minister did the following:
fought injustice as a young Saskatchewan lawyer
opposed a "hyphenated" approach to citizenship and instead favoured "one Canada" for all
as prime minister, led fellow parliamentarians to give indigenous Canadians the vote
faced off against Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev at the UN and defended Western freedoms
led Parliament to pass the Bill of Rights in 1960
Diefenbaker is also relevant today for another reason: With U.S. president Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods and his taunting of Canada as the “51st state,” history may be repeating itself.
As prime minister, John Diefenbaker faced John F. Kennedy, who actively undermined his Canadian counterpart after Kennedy became president in 1961. Other points of tension between the two nations and during Diefenbaker’s 1957–1963 tenure as prime minister included:
the stationing of American nuclear weapons on Canadian soil
American withholding of information from Canada amid the Cuban Missile Crisis and
American interference in the 1962 and 1963 Canadian federal elections.
American-Canadian disputes aside, Plamondon argues that “Diefenbaker was a champion for those whose voices often go unheard.”
According to Plamondon, “Diefenbaker was often out of step with the Canadian establishment but was rarely disconnected from ordinary Canadians. A small-town upstart with a German last name, Diefenbaker knew what it was like to be an outsider. As a result, he consistently fought for a Canada free of discrimination.”
In his forward, Chrétien wrote, “I was a political opponent of John Diefenbaker but never an enemy. Though we had our differences, we shared much in common, particularly our optimism about Canada. John Diefenbaker was undeniably a proud and passionate Canadian. He devoted his life to public service and inspired others to do the same. I hope his memory will continue to encourage others to serve their country, which is why I am happy his story is being told.”
The book's Amazon listing says, "Diefenbaker instinctively took the side of the underdog. He fought for Canadian values. He advanced the cause of liberty and freedom by opposing all forms of discrimination and by resisting government overreach into the lives of everyday Canadians. The record shows that Diefenbaker sided with indigenous Canadians more so than any prime minister. He also overcame early setbacks to pursue his vision of a Canada without systemic discrimination or hyphenated identities."
Freedom Fighter is listed on Amazon but will also be distributed to Canadian bookstores. The paperback version is $30, while the Kindle version is $9.99.
