Season 2 Episode 8

In this episode of The Life of a Servant, host Brian Crombie and Dennis Mills ask the question, Who Speaks for Canada?

This episode was recorded for the Brian Crombie Radio Hour, aired and streamed on NewsTalk Sauga 960 AM, on September 30, 2024 – and was put in motion by a Facebook post by Dennis the week prior.

During that week, the Bloc Québecois, a separatist political party in Canada issued an ultimatum to the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, telling the government what they need to do to survive. They provided a deadline and conditions, which, if not met, would be subject to a confidence vote, potentially bringing down Canada's national government.

Dennis argues passionately that the ultimatum by the separatist party provides the Prime Minister with precisely what he needs in order to win the next national election.

It all gets down to the question – Who Speaks for Canada?

Dennis and Brian talk about how national unity has become the most significant issue in the political landscape of Canada, demanding that we ask who can best serve the interests of the Canadian nation, while recognizing that the Conservative Party simply has no appropriate or adequate response to this looming crisis.

Only Justin Trudeau, like his father, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1980, can keep our country together.

The argument is compelling, the analysis persuasive, and the outlook for the current Liberal Government in Ottawa is in, Brian’s words, a little scary.

You can visit the Brian Crombie Radio Hour at www.briancrombie.com⁠ and at his official YouTube channel, ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNI04-ugbxCp4xsFyXaQIUg⁠ . Also check out Brian’s podcast and others at NewsTalk Sauga 960 AM ⁠https://sauga960am.ca⁠

And, of course, visit ⁠DennisMills.com⁠ for more information and archived episodes of this program. You can also learn more about Dennis’ upcoming memoir, From the Wood Chair to the Green Chair, at ⁠DennisMills.com⁠.

Featured in this episode: Brian Crombie, Canadian politics, national election, podcasts, Dennis Mills, The Life of a Servant, From the Wood Chair to the Green Chair, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Government of Canada, Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québecois.

Season 2, Episode 7

Food prices are something all of us are intimately aware of these days. So we thought we’d reach into the vaults and pull out a radio interview from 24 years ago that shows you’re not alone in your concerns about food security and making ends meet.

This episode features an unedited conversation between Dennis Mills, internationally celebrated musical performer, Sylvia Tyson, and legendary radio broadcaster, Michael Enright. The audio is from a December 1999 broadcast of Michael’s program, “This Morning”, which was originally aired on CBC Radio One.

Dennis describes the crisis faced by family farms at that time, and how upwards of 60,000 farms across Canada hung precariously on a week-by-week lifeline. He then talks about the Family Farm Tribute, which was hosted a month later at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena), as an effort to raise awareness of the importance of food security and the farm crisis in Canada.

Sylvia Tyson joins the conversation and explains to Michael and his CBC listeners how she immediately agreed to participate in a cause that was not only dear to her, but fundamental to Canada's social and economic fabric.

Learn more information about the Family Farm Tribute at DennisMills.com. You can also read more in-depth stories about the family farm crisis, and how the Family Farm Tribute evolved into multiple awareness-raising events, in Dennis’ newest book, “From the Wood Chair to the Green Chair: A Memoir”.

Tags: Dennis Mills, Family Farm Tribute, Michael Enright, CBC Radio One “This Morning”, Sylvia Tyson, Ronnie Hawkins, family farms, Prairie Oyster, Canada’s food production system, food prices, food security, advocacy, public policy, awareness-raising special events, servant leadership, From the Wood Chair to the Green Chair.

Season 2, Episode 6

This episode features a conversation with Dennis Mills and John Oakley -- host of The John Oakley Show. Originally aired on AM640 (CFIQ) on July 31, 2023, and originally titled, "Remembering Sarsfest with Dennis Mills."

This episode is the third in our series of interviews that looks back on Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto in 2003, how that event actually came to be, and what we can learn from it.

"That event really was THE template for cooperation and collaboration, of service to the people," Dennis explains. "Everybody came together to tackle the economic fallout associated with SARS in 2003."

"Today, we need a 'war room' to bring our leaders together, to put their resources on the table, and not leave that room until solutions and do-able plans can be executed," Dennis said. The very type of collaboration and cooperation that produced Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto -- against all the odds. Te lessons of Servant Leadership.

Special thanks to Lead Producer of The John Oakley Show, Michael Downey in making this episode possible. Be sure to check out The John Oakley Show, 3pm to 6pm, weekdays EST on AM640, which is also available wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Visit DennisMills.com for more information, archived episodes of this program, as well as information about Dennis' upcoming book, From the Wood Chair to the Green Chair.

Keywords: Dennis Mills, John Oakley, Justin Trudeau, Michael Cohl, Olivia Chow, Doug Ford, Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Rush, The Guess Who, Sarsfest, Molson Rocks for Toronto, The John Oakley Show, Michael Downey, Julian Fantino, Jean Chretien, Pierre Poilievre.