Season 4, Episode 1

Parliamentary Ethics: Should Canadian MPs Be More Independent?

That was the question Massey College's Public Policy Chair, Tom Axworthy, put to a panel of distinguished experts, including Dennis Mills as a former Parliamentarian, at a live event on January 6, 2026.

Moderated by Tom Axworthy, the session explores the growing tension between Canada’s elected Members of Parliament and the expanding power of the Prime Minister’s Office and executive branch.

Many observers argue that MPs have become overly constrained by party discipline, communications control, and the centralization of decision-making in Ottawa. Others maintain that a cohesive executive is essential for responsible government.

Hosted live and streamed on January 6, 2026 from Massey College in the University of Toronto, the panel features:

• Sabreena Delhon , CEO at the Samara Centre for Democracy and Senior Fellow at Massey College

• Dennis Mills, Former member of Parliament, author of From the Wood Chair to the Green Chair

• Arvind Krishendehol, Junior Fellow, Massey College, Doctoral Candidate in Political Science

For complete video visit the Massey College YouTube Channel (Visit https://www.youtube.com/@MasseyCollege)

Also be sure to visit Dennis Mills' YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TheLifeofaServant) as well as Dennis' website, www.dennismills.com.

All original production of this episode was provided by Massey College. This episode is not monetized in any way, and is provided for public information and education.

#canada #parliament #politics #canadianpolitics #parliamentaryethics #dennismills #masseycollege #tomaxworthy #samaracentre #democracy #lifeofaservant #servantleadership #representation

Season 3, Episode 3

Working Towards a National Food Plan for Canada

In a recent episode ofThe Life of a Servant we talked about the importance of protecting Canada’s fresh water resources.

In this episode we take another trip back to the year 2001 to hear a speech delivered byDennis Mills in Canada’s House of Commons aboutfood security.

On March 20, 2001, Dennis was serving as the Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth. As a city MP, Dennis and his team led several efforts to educate and raise awareness among Canada’s urban population about the value of Canada’s family farms.

This speech provides listeners with an audio glimpse into the nation’s boardroom nearly a quarter of a century ago, and how Members of Parliament from all political parties were working towards supporting and bolstering Canada’s family farms, protecting our national food supply, and finding do-able ways to raise our national understanding and appreciation of how our food moves from the fields to our tables.

Twenty-four years later, issues around food prices and how Canada’s food chain works really have taken a front seat on the tables, in the wallets and in the hearts and minds of Canadians.

Visit ⁠www.dennismills.com to learn more and to ADD YOUR VOICE to the conversation about building a stronger, more inclusive and resilient Canada for all Canadians. YOUR VOICE COUNTS.

And don’t forget to check out the latest book by Dennis Mills, “From the Wood Chair to the Green Chair: A Memoir” available now through ⁠www.benmcnallybooks.com⁠ in the heart of Toronto, as well as through an Amazon global marketplace near you (https://a.co/d/d7qqbpS).

#books #memoir #podcast #politics #bookstagram #parliament #publicpolicy #government #canadianbusiness #politicalleadership #thelifeofaservant #lifeofaservant #politicalmemoir #servantleadership #howtogetelected #taxreform #singletaxsystem #watermanagement #familyfarms #foodsecurity #foodprices #eventplanning #advocacy #howtoadvocate #canadianindigenous #liberalleadership #primeministers #governingcanada #ifiwereprimeminister #ifiwerepm #canada #politicalbiography #businessbiography

Season 3, Episode 2

This episode ofThe Life of a Servant takes listeners back 24 years, to May 8, 2001, in Canada’s House of Commons. On that day,Dennis Mills and several other Members of Parliament from all parties participated in a debate that focused on strengthening the safety, management and protection of Canada’s freshwater resources. The two other voices you hear in this episode are those of the Speaker of the House, the HonourableEleni Bakopanos, andJohn Herron, then the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal in New Brunswick.

What you’ll hear is in many ways an audio time capsule from theboardroom of the nation – a chamber where Members from all parties rose above partisanship to deal with the issues that affected all Canadians; during a time period, although long-overdue, that featured Canada’s Parliamentarians seizing the importance of working collaboratively with indigenous governments and communities; and in a far-sighted moment, nearly a quarter of a century ago, in which our Members of Parliament from all communities in Canada knew that we would one day have to find some way to protect Canada’s most important resource.

Twenty-four years later, today’s pressing need to protect Canada’s freshwater resources just may be Canada’s defining leadership moment.

Visit ⁠www.dennismills.com to learn more and to ADD YOUR VOICE to the conversation about building a stronger, more inclusive and resilient Canada for all Canadians. YOUR VOICE COUNTS.

And don’t forget to check out the latest book by Dennis Mills, “From the Wood Chair to the Green Chair: A Memoir” available now through ⁠www.benmcnallybooks.com⁠ in the heart of Toronto, as well as through an Amazon global marketplace near you (https://a.co/d/d7qqbpS).

#books #memoir #podcast #politics #bookstagram #parliament #publicpolicy #government #canadianbusiness #politicalleadership #thelifeofaservant #lifeofaservant #politicalmemoir #servantleadership #howtogetelected #taxreform #singletaxsystem #watermanagement #familyfarms #foodsecurity #foodprices #eventplanning #advocacy #howtoadvocate #canadianindigenous #liberalleadership #primeministers #governingcanada #ifiwereprimeminister #ifiwerepm #canada #politicalbiography #businessbiography