Season 4, Episode 2

MP Scott Aitchison Urges Creation of Thousands of Affordable Housing Units While Also Preserving Canada’s Legion Branches

The lack of affordable housing has reached crisis levels across the G7, and Canada no exception.

The good news? There are some solutions.

On February 2, 2026, Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities welcomed Ana Bailão, the CEO of Build Canada Homes, the national government’s new central entity to oversee and respond to the affordable housing crisis in Canada.

Standing Committee Chair, MP Robert Morrissey (Egmont, Prince Edward Island) welcomed questions by Associate Committee Member, Scott Aitchison (Parry Sound—Muskoka) and responses from Ms. Bailão about the status of proposal that came from his riding, in the community of Bala.

The proposal, as MP Aitchison explained, was steered by former Member of Parliament Dennis Mills in his capacity as President of the Bala Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 424). The plan represents an opportunity to create thousands of affordable housing units across Canada for families in desperate need while also preserving the Legion branches and their community impact throughout the country.

As Dennis has point out in his memoir “From the Wood Chair to the Green Chair”, committees are the place where the real work of Parliament often occurs – and this positive exchange about affordable housing is a perfect example.

This episode of The Life of a Servant re-purposes video footage from the House of Commons Standing Committee, from February 2, 2026, for information and educational purposes.

This is a video episode on Spotify and audio-only on most other podcast platforms.

The full video can also be seen at Dennis Mills' YouTube channel (⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheLifeofaServant⁠).

And be sure to check out more information at Dennis' website, ⁠www.dennismills.com⁠.

#canada #parliament #politics #canadianpolitics #affordablehousing #dennismills #buildcanadahomes #housing #huma #parliament #scottaitchison #balalegion #branch424 #legion #lifeofaservant #servantleadership #representation

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