Dr. Glen Duerr_On Canada

Published Jan 9, 2025, 3:20 PM
Copyright WGNR Radio 2025

Live from the studios of Moody Radio Indiana. It's mornings with Kelly and Steve.

Well, a quick recap on what it is doing outside your door. It is cold. It is cold out there. Four degrees over in Anderson and, uh, eight degrees in Lafayette. The big one in Bloomington, five in Indianapolis. It's just chilly out there. So bundle up when you're leaving the house. You're right there. Kelly. Did you bundle up this morning?

You know, I, I didn't.

Again, you just roll in the sweatshirt.

It felt fine. All right. I'm telling you, I think I'm just assimilating.

Well, I know. Nope, nope nope. It's just cold to me, and I'm sure it's cold to everybody else. And by the way, Susan did catch your text there. Uh, we will respond to you. We'll get Kelly's art ideas for the refrigerator. And then we'll get you the address where you mail that to.

As far as the ideas, I'll just tell you all this now. Anything your heart desires, whatever you're feeling on the inside, whatever makes you happy, that's what you create. Oh, boy. And I'll get back to you via. Via the giant texting machine with our address.

I can see this all going very sideways soon.

I just want some stuff to hang on the fridge here at Moody Radio. That would be fun.

All right. Yep. I can't wait to see what it is. Hey, we have been sharing this with you all morning. There is lots of unrest happening right now. Uh, inside of the political scene of Canada. Just recently, Justin Trudeau stepping down. There are some speculation as to who could step into his shoes. What does that mean? And what does that mean for our relationship with the 51st? No, I'm kidding, the 51st state of Canada. Oh, just playing into the fun. Oh, that's pretty funny. but we need to get some insight. And joining us this morning we have got Doctor Glenn Doer. Glad to have him with us. Professor of international studies over there at Cedarville University. And so happy New Year to you, my friend. Very glad to have you on.

Happy New Year to you. Thank you for having me.

Doctor doer, I don't even know where to start with this. You know this. My brain goes in so many different directions with this because part of it, um, you know, we've been sitting here, Steve and I. This is just our sense of humor, but it is a serious situation with Canada. And I guess where I would want to start with the questions is for anyone like me, because I don't really follow Canadian news. I'm not Canadian. Clear it up for me and start me in the right place. Why did Justin Trudeau step down? What on earth prompted this?

Justin Trudeau has been in power for nine years and about three months now, and so he's been long standing. And this is all legal because Canada uses the parliamentary system like the UK. So there are no term limits. But effectively each election serves as an opportunity for a new leader. But he's he's been in for approaching a decade. And there's certainly a weariness that comes with that. Canada, like the United States, has struggled with inflation very significantly. Housing is a big issue and Canada's economy has lagged behind the United States. It's us even it's more difficult. Years in recent years has has outperformed Canada by a fair bit. And so a lot of Canadians are weary of that, probably looking for a change. And the polls suggest that the Conservative Party will do really quite well at the next election. But it just depends on when it's held. It has to be some time sometime between now and October. Um, but I can get to that in a little bit. The previous Canadian election in 2021 yielded a minority government, and that what that means is that the Liberal Party, Justin Trudeau's party, does not hold a majority in the House of Commons, the equivalent of the House of Representatives, and as such, needs help from other political parties and leaders just to get legislation through. And he's been propped up by the New Democratic Party, the NDP, which we can think of as a far left party on a left right spectrum. And they have said, okay, we no longer support Trudeau, we are going to withdraw our support. And then came a big nail in the coffin that is Trudeau, basically, um, ousted.

Started.

His long standing deputy prime minister and finance minister. She serves in a dual role, Chrystia Freeland. But he still wanted her to deliver a significant economic speech to close the year, and she very abruptly and publicly resigned. And as such, a lot of people within the Liberal Party have been calling on Trudeau to resign throughout December, and he's essentially agreed to step down just a few days ago until. But he'll stay in as prime minister and leader of the party until a new leader is selected. And so there's a lot of moving parts right now.

Well, there's moving parts, there's always speculation, and there have been some contenders that were named. And of course, we know the opposition leader of the party, Pierre Poilievre. And there's. Is there a chance for a transition from moving from, uh, moving from the libertarian And views over to those conservative views. I know you said that there's there's probably a good chance there, but realistically, what does that look like? Um, for the people in Canada to choose a more conservative leader.

You know, when the next election is held and it can be held no later than October. But my my guess is it will come up, because what needs to happen is there needs to be a resumption of Parliament and that could occur, um, by February. But Trudeau is pushing to have it happen in March. It's what's called proroguing the parliament or delaying it in order to get the House in order. And Trudeau also wants a new Liberal leader who would be the prime minister going into the next election. But all the opinion polls for the last really 18 months have showed Poilievre just having much, much more, um, support among the people. Wide majority is likely for the Conservative Party, of course. An opinion poll is an opinion. It's not a vote. And so, uh, stranger things have happened in politics, but, um, the conservatives are on pace to, to win. And Poilievre would then be the next prime minister. Um, but there could be a transition Prime minister in between. That is something that could happen as well. It is worth noting that there are other significant parties. I mentioned the NDP. They probably will gain a share of the vote and the seats, and it is worth discussing the Bloc Québécois, that is the um, uh, francophone party in the province of Quebec that has long desired to leave Canada. Uh, some of your listeners may recall, uh, referendums in 1980 and 1995, the latter of which came down to about 50,000 votes. Whether or not Quebec would stay in Canada. And it was on really a knife edge of a 49.4% said, we want to leave and become a new country. That party, the Bloc Quebecois, could do pretty well in Quebec if another election is called very, very soon.

When it comes to the international platform and we look at international relations for Canada. Uh, tell us what what was the standing of Trudeau with other nations and what that would look like? What are other nations expecting or maybe even hoping for in seeing this transition in Canada on the international stage?

In liberal circles, Trudeau was very, very well liked, seen as a key leader. But that, um, shine has faded Did. Certainly with Canada's lack of economic performance and certainly difficulties around governance. And I think a lot of people have just become tired of a leader that's been in for a long time and wants to stay in further. And so that has really um, that's like like I said, that Shane has really, uh, dulled, uh, in conservative circles. He's been deeply disliked. Uh, he's he's pushed a lot of the progressive agenda that's really changed a lot of countries. Uh, we've seen some of that in the United States. Uh, for example, he, uh, enforced within his party that every liberal candidate has to be pro-choice. He didn't even allow for a pro-life candidate to run within the Liberal Party. There are things of that nature that I think perturbed a lot of people, uh, in the pro-life but also in wider conservative circles as well, because there are certainly Christians in Canada that have long voted and been major parts of the NDP and the Liberal Party. But under Trudeau, it's been very, very difficult for those Christians to really operate. And so I think that standing among conservatives and Christians in a lot of parts of the world has there's been long opposition to Trudeau generally.

Well, obviously, our leadership is about to change with the inauguration coming up of president elect Trump. We don't know who's going to, you know, how things are going to shake out yet exactly in Canada. But how do you foresee our relationship changing specifically with so much at play in Canada?

It's always an interesting relationship because on the one hand, this is the world's essentially longest undefended border. There are obviously border checks, and it's taken very seriously and the And the technology has been updated. But when you look around the world of all the tensions and all the difficult borders and all the conflicts around the world, the Canadian-American border is huge and typically very, very peaceful and very, very good. And there's also a massive volume of trade that goes through it. The Ambassador Bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan to Windsor, Ontario. For a time had the highest volume of trade of any border anywhere in the world. And so there's a very, very significant trade relationship. A lot of synergy between the countries. But at the same time, there's a level of consternation if we think about the change from NAFTA to the Usmca. President Trump at the time trying to get a better deal because there was protectionism in various areas and sectors of the Canadian economy. There are tensions Tension sometimes between the president of the United States and the Prime Minister of Canada. The Prime Minister of Canada can never be seen as weak towards the president of the United States always has to stand up for the interests of Canadians. And in fact, Canada was created really to prevent manifest Destiny from going north. Rather historically going west and moving out westward. Canada was created as a confederation in 1867 of four provinces to try and maintain a distinct and historically British style of living, culture and governance as distinct from the United States. And so that's its founding. That's its beginning during the American Revolution, for example. And in its aftermath, loyalists to the British Crown. And there was there were many in the United States fled to what is What is now Canada to maintain that connection to the Crown. And so there is this, uh, friendship that's very, very strong between the two countries. Best buddies, in a way. But we also know with best friends there are hiccups in the relationship and tensions and, uh, in a sense, a bit of a big brother little brother relationship. And anyone with siblings knows how that goes as well.

Yeah, those can be very difficult, can't they? Well, speaking of difficulties, you had made mention just a few moments ago about inside of Trudeau's own party, the difficulty for anyone who is, uh, pro life to gain any traction. Uh, there is opposition to Christianity, of course, in all parts of the world, but there's been a 20 over 20% decline in Canadians who identify as Christians in the last two decades. Um, starting in about 2001, about 77% of Canadians identified as Christian. By 2011, it was down to 67. And now we're at about 53. At the last census in, you know, uh, reports of of 2021 just before or right at the very beginning of Covid. What does that mean, then? If there is a change of party and more conservative values are brought forth, will there be better traction or will we still continue to see a decline in those who are identifying as Christian? Do you think.

It really is hard to know because politics and faith have their overlapping points, but it's not something that necessarily brings someone into a church or develops a relationship with Jesus Christ. But you're absolutely right. In terms of formal census data, the churchgoing population has declined. But even those that identify as Christian have also declined. There's a lot of doom and gloom in the headlines, but it is worth noting that still, over half of Canadians identify as Christian. There are vibrant churches, especially in many, many rural areas. Rural Ontario has a lot of excellent churches. Alberta is still known the province out west as as the Bible Belt of Canada. It has very, very strong sense of ministry, especially in and around the city of Calgary. And the North American Mission Board also opened up 38 new churches, new church plants in Canada in the last year. And so there are some wonderful success stories. And it's also worth noting in the major cities Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, there Are strong immigrant populations who have brought a very strong sense of the gospel and preaching it to some of those city centers. And so there are many revivals in some select circles that are taking place. So there are some very good news in that. And I think with Poilievre, he's going to govern in such a way should he win. And that's still a big if, because there's a lot that can happen between now and and the election. But it would be certainly more open and favorable to people of faith, to Christian values, to the pro-life movement, all of those different areas.

Yeah. Because it was concerning just a few short years ago that the number of pastors who were being arrested. There was there was some, you know, indication of persecution, you know, outright persecution over church leadership there in Canada.

Hate speech. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Mhm.

And even, um, Trinity Western University a significant academic institution with Christian values in British Columbia, had its law school shut down for a period over its stances on marriage in life and, as you know, did absolutely in the midst of Covid. It was it was there was some very, very difficult lockdowns, some of the most restrictive anywhere on the planet were in Toronto and Montreal.

Well, Doctor Dewar, as you look at what's what is happening now in Canada and things that are coming, how would you guide us in praying for our neighbors to the north?

Well, it's a tumultuous time, and as I noted in the outset, housing has become a very, very prickly and difficult issue. It's very, very expensive and very difficult for anyone in Gen Z to get into the housing market, onto the ladder of ownership. Inflation has been very difficult. And so, um, homelessness has unfortunately grown, food insecurity has become much more difficult. And so really, to pray for a strong and good and wise leadership. Uh, the wisdom of Solomon, I think really to to the leaders, uh, you know, if it's pollievre or if it's someone else, uh, to really guide and get Canada back onto a better track because it has faced some real difficulties over the last decade in a number of key areas and then certainly good working relationships. If we think through the Book of First Kings, there are a number of examples of good diplomatic relationships that's going to be needed if there's a new Canadian prime minister alongside a new American president coming in, just how that relationship will work. Um, again, I know did kind of big brother, little brother. So there's always that dynamic. But, uh, if the two leaders can get along well that they can cultivate for the good of the of the people. If trade can move forward. If things can be open and free. I think there's a lot that could go very, very well in the forthcoming years if some of those things happen.

All right. Well, your insight is very valuable to us and to those of us who are listening and, you know, the indication of how we can be praying as Christians over these types of matters is very key. I know one area of concern that we're going to have you back on to the program, uh, for is is over in Syria with the change there in leadership. And what does that mean for Christians? And so we're looking forward to having you rejoin us, uh, at a later date to tackle what's going on in Syria. But this has been very valuable and helpful, uh, in clarifying some of the the things that we need to be praying for and what we are understanding in our news cycle as to what is happening up in up in Canada?

My pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Yes. Thank you, Doctor Dewar. Again, we're going to be talking with Doctor Glendower next. I believe it's next Thursday, same time, 805. So, uh, make sure you're joining us then to know how to pray for what is happening in Syria. Because, again, we were discussing this just a little bit earlier. Change in leadership, Christians in limbo. They're not knowing what's going to happen. And, uh, Doctor Dewar will help us to try to, to make a little more sense out of what's going on in that part of the world. But they need our prayers right now.

That is absolutely right. So our thanks to Doctor Glenn, dear professor of International Studies over at Cedarville University. If you want to learn more, cedarville.edu is the place you can find out about the university. And, uh, you just search on his name there, Doctor Glendower, you'll find out all the information about him, and we'll look forward to him rejoining us next week. We're going to be back in just a little bit. It is mornings with Kelly and Steve.

Mornings with Kelli and Steve

Join Kelli Thompson and Steve Hocker for updates, weather, community events, interviews, and feature 
Social links
Follow podcast
Recent clips
Browse 941 clip(s)