Editing John Diefenbaker (section)

==== Minority government ====
[[File:Queen Elizabeth II greeted by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.jpg|thumb|Diefenbaker greeting Queen Elizabeth II, 1957]]
When John Diefenbaker took office as Prime Minister of Canada on June 21, 1957, only one Progressive Conservative MP, [[William Earl Rowe|Earl Rowe]], had served in federal governmental office, for a brief period under Bennett in 1935. Rowe was no friend of Diefenbaker – he had briefly served as the party's acting leader in-between Drew's resignation and Diefenbaker's election, and did not definitively rule himself out of running to succeed Drew permanently until a relatively late stage, contributing to Diefenbaker's mistrust of him – and was given no place in his government.{{sfn|Smith|1995|p=244}} Diefenbaker appointed [[Ellen Fairclough]] as [[Secretary of State for Canada]], the first woman to be appointed to a Cabinet post, and [[Michael Starr (politician)|Michael Starr]] as [[Minister of Labour (Canada)|Minister of Labour]], the first [[Ukrainian Canadian|Canadian of Ukrainian descent]] to serve in Cabinet.{{sfn|Daniell|1957}}

As [[Centre Block|the Parliament buildings]] had been lent to the [[Universal Postal Union]] for its 14th congress, Diefenbaker was forced to wait until the fall to convene Parliament. However, the Cabinet approved measures that summer, including increased price supports for butter and turkeys, and raises for federal employees.{{sfn|Newman|1963|pp=61–63}} Once the [[23rd Canadian Parliament]] was opened on October 14 by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] – the first to be opened by any [[Canadian monarch]] – the government rapidly passed legislation, including tax cuts and increases in old age pensions. The Liberals were ineffective in opposition, with the party in the midst of a leadership race after St. Laurent's resignation as party leader.{{sfn|Newman|1963|pp=63–65}}

With the Conservatives leading in the polls, Diefenbaker wanted a new election, hopeful that his party would gain a majority of seats. The strong Liberal presence meant that the Governor General could refuse a dissolution request early in a parliament's term and allow them to form government if Diefenbaker resigned.  Diefenbaker sought a pretext for a new election.{{sfn|Smith|1995|pp=272–273}}

Such an excuse presented itself when former Secretary of State for External Affairs [[Lester Pearson]] attended his first parliamentary session as Leader of the Opposition on January 20, 1958, four days after becoming the Liberal leader. In his first speech as leader, Pearson (recently returned from [[Oslo]] where he had been awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]), moved an amendment to [[loss of supply|supply]], and called, not for an election, but for the Progressive Conservatives to resign, allowing the Liberals to form a government. Pearson stated that the condition of the economy required "a Government pledged to implement Liberal policies".{{sfn|English|1992|p=200}} Government MPs laughed at Pearson, as did members of the press who were present. Pearson later recorded in his memoirs that he knew that his "first attack on the government had been a failure, indeed a fiasco".{{sfn|English|1992|p=200}} Diefenbaker spoke for two hours and three minutes, and devastated his Liberal opposition. He mocked Pearson, contrasting the party leader's address at the Liberal leadership convention with his speech to the House:

<blockquote>On Thursday there was shrieking defiance, on the following Monday there is shrinking indecision&nbsp;... The only reason that this motion is worded as it is[,] is that my honourable friends opposite quake when they think of what will happen if an election comes&nbsp;... It is the resignation from responsibility of a great party.{{sfn|Smith|1995|p=276}}</blockquote>

Diefenbaker read from an internal report provided to the St. Laurent government in early 1957, warning that a recession was coming, and stated:

<blockquote>Across the way, Mr. Speaker, sit the purveyors of gloom who would endeavour for political purposes, to panic the Canadian people&nbsp;... They had a warning&nbsp;... Did they tell us that? No. Mr. Speaker, why did they not reveal this? Why did they not act when the House was sitting in January, February, March, and April? They had the information&nbsp;... You concealed the facts, that is what you did.{{sfn|Smith|1995|pp=287–288}}</blockquote>

According to the Minister of Finance, [[Donald Fleming]], "Pearson looked at first merry, then serious, then uncomfortable, then disturbed, and finally sick."{{sfn|Smith|1995|p=276}} Pearson recorded in his memoirs that the Prime Minister "tore me to shreds".{{sfn|English|1992|p=200}} Prominent Liberal frontbencher [[Paul Martin Sr.|Paul Martin]] called Diefenbaker's response "one of the greatest devastating speeches" and "Diefenbaker's great hour".{{sfn|Stursberg|1975|p=88}} On February 1, Diefenbaker asked the Governor General, [[Vincent Massey]], to dissolve Parliament, alleging that though St. Laurent had promised cooperation, Pearson had made it clear he would not follow his predecessor's lead. Massey agreed to the dissolution, and Diefenbaker set an election date of March 31, 1958.{{sfn|Stursberg|1975|p=89}}{{sfn|Smith|1995|p=278}}