Lessons learned by Christian candidates from the summer election

Janet Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

The summer’s whirlwind election produced an outcome no one hoped for, yet it offered many lessons which will help candidates prepare for the next federal election—perhaps only months away. Spur Ottawa connected with two local Christian candidates (neither of whom were elected) to reflect on their experience, their hope for Canada’s future, and how they see faith playing a part in the public square.

After wrestling with the decision for more than six months, Mary-Elsie Wolfe felt compelled to be part of restoring hope to Canada. She ran as the Conservative candidate for the riding of Orleans.

“Win or lose, I had to jump in and do whatever I could. I’m not sure that I have ever seen Canada more divided in my lifetime,” says Wolfe. “I want to figure out how we can better unite as a country, how we can value each other without categorizing and then shaming and cancelling others out.”

Wolfe believes the way forward for Canada is to focus on rebuilding instead of tearing down and really listening instead of dismissing others because they think differently.

“We don’t need to box people into categories. I want to believe the best in people (because I believe we can rise up to the potential leaders see in us). For that reason, I don’t require people to fall into one narrative that gets defined and dictated by a political leader, as we see in some parties.”

“I want to believe the best in people (because I believe we can rise up to the potential leaders see in us).” Photo courtesy of Mary-Elsie Wolfe.

Across the city, Matt Triemstra entered the race after seeing firsthand how hard COVID-19 had impacted his children and other families. He ran as the Conservative candidate for Nepean.

“Our kids lost their peers, routines, and activities. In their place, anxiety and depression took root,” shares Triemstra. “I wanted to run for a party that was going to take the mental health crisis seriously.”

The past decade has seen an increasing momentum behind the idea that religion (and religious people) have no place in politics. For both these candidates, however, faith was an important factor in pursuing politics.

“Christians can and must be involved in the public square,” states Triemstra. “For many, politics may seem daunting, but for me it was stepping out in faith to follow a path that God had laid out for me.”

“There is more in this country that unites us and we need to use our Christianity to find common ground.” Photo courtesy of Matt Triemstra.

As a Christian in politics, Wolfe stresses the need to always stay close to Jesus. “Our first goal as believers is to love God and then love people. The first mobilizes the latter. If I were to earn the trust of Canadians to represent them in the House of Commons, I would want to defend the right of all Canadians to align themselves with where they see their identity. In the Christian faith, we see our identity in Christ, and therefore our actions and behaviour should be permitted to align accordingly.”

Wolfe was thankful for the opportunity to speak with people on their doorsteps, listening to their hopes, dreams, and concerns. She stresses the need for more politicians to connect with people directly, as Jesus did.

“We can boldly be different from the worldview that predominates our society by starting to listen more attentively, hearing people’s hearts,” says Wolfe. “When we look at how Jesus connected with people, he wasn’t patronizing, arrogant, or condescending. He met people where they were and spoke hope into their lives. He breathed into them possibilities.”

Triemstra also stresses that his faith spurs him to defends the right to freedom of religion and conscience for all Canadians, regardless of their creed or background.

“For me, in Nepean, that meant running to represent an ethnically-diverse riding, one in which many different types of faiths are practiced,” he explains. “When you run as a Christian in politics, you have to remember that there are others who are equally motivated by their respective faiths. I believe that we need to make room for all people to practice their faiths in this country without fear of persecution. There is more in this country that unites us and we need to use our Christianity to find common ground.”