Among the fierce political debates in the 1960s between Prime Ministers John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson was their disagreement about how Canada should be represented. When in power, Pearson seized the opportunity to make a symbolic break with the British past, while Diefenbaker became the self-appointed defender of the country's traditions. The Strange Demise of British Canada examines the debate and the formative background of the participants, and reconsiders whether Pearson's reforms were successful in ushering in a "New Canada" for the 1967 Centennial.

Examining cases such as the introduction of the Maple Leaf to replace the Canadian Red Ensign and Union Jack as the national flag, Champion shows that, despite what he calls Canada's "crisis of Britishness," Pearson and his supporters unwittingly perpetuated a continuing Britishness because they - and their ideals - were the product of a British world. Using a fascinating array of personal papers, memoirs, and contemporary sources, this ground-breaking study demonstrates the ongoing influence of Britishness in Canada and showcases the personalities and views of some of the country's most important political and cultural figures. An important study that provides a better understanding of Canada, The Strange Demise of British Canada also shows the lasting influence Britain has had on its former colonies across the globe.