Derek Sloan is the first Seventh-day Adventist ever elected to the Canadian House of Commons.
A graduate of PUC in 2007, Sloan was president of the PUC Student Association in his senior year. 36 Years old, he now lives in Bellville, Ontario with his wife and three children.
In 2018, Sloan sought the Conservative Party of Canada nomination for the district of Hastings—Lennox and Addington in southern Ontario defeating three other candidates. In a surprise victory in the 2019 Canadian Federal Election, Sloan won, defeating liberal incumbent Mike Bossio. He was interviewed by the NAD on December 11, 2020.
As a Bible-believing Seventh-day Adventist, Derek has sought to follow biblical principles, sometimes paying the price for running afoul of political correctness. His affirmation of the biblical view of sexuality, and sanctity of life for the unborn have often drawn scorn from the progressive Canadian media, and at times—made timid members of his own party uneasy.
He recently became an Independent, after controversy regarding a $131 donation from a questionable 2020 donor (Paul Fromm) resulted in his being ousted from the Conservative Party by a majority vote in January 20. Derek was upbeat, outspoken, and to the point, in his interview here with Gerry Wagoner.
Hi Derek. Thanks for granting us this interview.
Glad to do it.
Were you raised as a Seventh-day Adventist or are you a convert?
My parents became Adventist several years before I was born. I was raised in the church, but became serious about my faith when I was 18.
Have you always lived in Canada? Tell us about your home life.
I was born and raised in Canada. I spent four great years at Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, but have been back in Canada ever since.
Do you have a family? Wife and children? How are they doing?
I’ve been married to Jennifer Sloan for almost 8 years. We have 3 kids. Fiona (7), Callum (5), and Nora (4). They’re great kids, and put up with a lot of travel and other public responsibilities I have. I try to bring them with me whenever I can. My wife is a Nurse Practitioner, and a rock in our family. We have decided to homeschool our kids this year, so I can bring them with me when I go to Ottawa (Canada’s Capital).
How did you get involved in Canadian politics?
It was a gradual process that took about 10 years. It started with frustrations stemming from my time as a small business owner, and culminated in law school where I reacted against the politicization of law, and my feelings that we were being taught to be political activists first, and lawyers second. After law school, I realized that my local district (riding) would have a nomination to see who would represent the Conservative Party of Canada (something like the US Republican party) in my area. After praying about it, certain circumstances aligned that I viewed as “opening a door” for me and I decided to throw my hat in the race, and I won a heavily contested nomination against several more well known and better financed candidates.
What does MP mean?
MP means “Member of Parliament”. It is similar to being a Member of Congress in the US. Canada does have a Senate, but it is not as powerful as the Senate in the USA. Therefore, the House of Commons (equivalent to the Congress) where I sit, is the power centre for making law, and is where, for example, the Canadian Prime Minister sits.
What is it like being a conservative politician in Canada?
Like the USA, Canada is also divided politically. Conservatives do better in more rural areas, and Liberals better in the cities. There is a general media bias against social-conservatives like myself. Social conservatives are those who are pro-life and pro-family.
What religious liberty challenges do Christians face in Canada?
There is a growing political correctness that is impinging on the ability to speak and share your views – both online, and in other ways.
Specifically, conversion therapy bans, which are being considered as a federal law currently, purport to ban efforts to “change” someone from “homosexual to heterosexual” or from “trans-gender to cis-gender”. This could easily be interpreted to impinge on pastoral counseling and generally affect the ability of churches to teach traditional views on marriage and gender.
There is also the advancement of euthanasia (medical assistance in dying) which could impact the consciences of physicians who do not want to be involved in any way with such practices, including providing effective referrals.
In what ways are our (American) challenges similar to Canada’s? How are they different?
I think challenges are quite similar. We are both dealing with the advancement of an aggressive secularism that tolerates religion, but only privately. They seek to mandate their views on gender, sexuality, and more in schools, workplaces, and more.
There is a culture of more aggressive and open debate in the USA, but our problems are the same.
What are some of the high points of your political career? What are the low points?
Running for the leadership of the Conservative party was a huge high point. Traveling across the country, I realized how many thousands of people believe the same as we do — namely a respect for God and a desire to have moral leadership in the country.
Politics can be tremendously stressful and taxing, even at the best of times. Being involved in national level politics with a leadership run, and holding views that are not politically correct and socially conservative can also be taxing, particularly with the viciousness of the media (both mainstream and social media) and also political maneuvering within your own party.
At several junctures I’ve faced the choice of standing “firm” or “damaging” my career. On one occasion the media, and very high level people in my party were demanding I apologize for comments I made about our Dr. Tam (equivalent to Dr. Fauci in the US), and her apparent complicity with the World Health Organization and by extension China, and I refused. There was a move by some in my party to throw me out of the party over this. I didn’t know if that would be my last week in politics. But it passed, and gave me nationwide attention in the leadership race. Standing by convictions can be costly, but compromise is fatal.
Have you met Jordan Peterson?
I have met Jordan Peterson. About 5 or so years ago, before he or I were truly national figures, I met him at a meeting at an event at my law school. I went out to eat with him after with a small group of people, and spent several hours talking to him. I can say confidently that having watched him debate in person, and spending time personally with him, he is the most fascinating and creative person I have ever met. His interests span everything from beekeeping to ways to remove plastic from the oceans.
Have you had any contact with US politicians, such as Ben Carson, or Sheila Lee? Is there a camaraderie between SDA politicians (few though there are).
I met Dr. Carson years ago before he or I were politicians. I do not keep up with either Dr. Carson or Sheila Lee, but COVID travel restrictions have played a part in that. In normal times, there would be more cross-border travel for different events.
Will the Canadian / USA border ever reopen?
The latest news says by the end of March, but who knows?
What do you like about the Advent Message?
For a theological conservative, it’s the most Biblically consistent faith. I also love the health message. Adventists were truly 150 years ahead of their time with the health message.
Does your job require you to travel a lot? How do you spend Sabbath, while traveling?
I have travelled quite a bit, particularly during the leadership race. I campaigned in nearly 100 towns and cities over a 6-week period. I avoid travelling on Sabbath. My team and I would hit the road during the week, and I would typically be home to spend Sabbath with the family. On one occasion I was in Quebec City on Sabbath, and I spent the day walking around and enjoying the nature and the views after watching our church program over Zoom.
What advice would you have for a young Seventh-day Adventist considering a career in politics?
If you feel that God is calling you to do that – go for it. It truly is a calling, and it’s not for everyone, but it’s certainly a place where God can use you. I would also say – do not let your party or your culture define you. Never compromise on principle, no matter what’s stacked against you. I have been in several situations where it appeared all hope was lost, and by standing firm, I was not the least bit moved. God is truly faithful.
America had a turbulent year in 2020. What concerns do you have about America?
America is at a critical turning point, as is Canada, but I have great hope for America (and Canada), to take up their destiny to be a light to the nations. I’m confident America (and Canada) will be an example of just and ethical governance, and of truly free and moral societies. There is such a tendency to stir up bitterness right now. Various forces are attempting to turn groups of people against each other. But there are two fundamental truths which God wishes to uphold at this time:
1. That all lives matter, from the womb, to when the Good Lord takes them off this earth.
2. If we’re bitter (about our status in life, our class, whether we are oppressed, etc.), we can’t do better. If we are grateful people, we can accomplish great things for the Lord.
These two principles alone would revolutionize America and Canada.
There are other concerns, namely the breakdown of civil discourse, and the frightening increase of censorship on major social media platforms (a symptom of this breakdown). This is as much a problem in Canada as the USA.
Is abortion a hot button issue in Canada, like it is in the U.S.?
Canada is in the interesting position of having no actual laws in relation to abortion. Our criminal laws against abortion were struck down by our Supreme Court court in 1988, and the government of the day attempted to replace them, but could not get anything passed. No government since has been willing to touch the issue. There is a lot of political agitation, particularly in the Conservative Party grassroots to address abortion in some way. Right now, there is a Conservative MP who is putting forward a bill to ban sex-selective abortion.
How do our Canadian brothers & sisters respond to increasing pressures from the LBGTQ Agenda? Some of our people in the States strongly resist it, some capitulate, and some try to ignore it.
There is no question there is a push to have traditional views on marriage and sexuality viewed as a contravention of Human Rights legislation. At its extreme, it means traditional views would be classified as “hate”, but even in a country like the USA, with the strongest free speech protections in the world, you’re not immune to problems. There is no question we are very close to a time where charitable status will be subject to some type of ideological litmus test and traditional views on sex and marriage could be a defining line for who gets to be a 501 3(c) organization and who does not.
To take a case in point on Conversion Therapy bans, Canada’s Bill C-6 (which has not yet passed in to law), is a great example of something that is advocated by the LGBTQ community that can directly impact pastoral teaching and counseling. This Bill is like many Conversion Therapy bans that exist at the municipal level in the USA, with one exception – it is a federal criminal law, which makes the “teeth” of this bill much worse.
It purports to prevent any treatment, service, etc. to change one’s sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual, or one’s gender from trans to cis-gender.
This bill amounts to an exceptionally broad framework for addressing conversion therapy. The penalty is five years in jail. The government has denied this, but on a plain reading of it, I believe a pastor would be guilty of conversion therapy by engaging in a one-on-one counseling session wherein they offered traditional views on sexual purity and gender identity, and encouraged the congregant to act on that advice.
This is extremely frightening to think a pastor could be jailed for stating what has been the teaching of the church for 2000 years.
The issues with respect to gender identity, and the massive increase of children who are identifying as some other gender than they were born with is alarming. When the best science shows that most kids will grow out of transgender identification, it is frightening to think that many activists want to shut down any therapy that might help a child sort this out.
There are activists who will not stop until it is almost impossible to hold non-mainstream views on these issues. The time is coming where professional accreditation (lawyers, doctors, architects, you name it) will be dependent on some politically correct view on LGBTQ issues, charitable organizations will be subject to politically-correct group think, Facebook will be scrubbed of any offending views, and in any and all ways possible, one’s life will be made a “hell” on earth for believing non-mainstream [biblical] views. It’s a frightening vision, and it needn’t fully come to pass (though we are on the way), but for those who are not awake to this, it is high time they awoke from slumber.
What counsel do you have for Adventist Christians, who are seeking to remain faithful in a hostile world?
Never compromise on a question of faith or values. Ever. Period. Don’t even think about it.
NEVER back down. Compromise on everything else if you like. Think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, it made absolutely no sense to stand up the way they did – in the face of certain death. And for what reason? You could argue they would have been greater witnesses to the truth if they remained alive. Couldn’t they have been more helpful to the Jews if they didn’t stick out like that and needlessly martyr themselves? You see how easy it is to rationalize compromise. But God never meets you in compromise. He meets you in extremity.
When you’ve done everything you can, and it’s you against the “system” or you against the “world” that’s when God shows up. And I’ve seen it time and time again. Of course, this does not mean we go out of our way to be oppositional. On the contrary, we should in every way seek to be at peace with others in this life, but when it comes down to standing on principle—and the test will come for each person—our only duty is to stand.
God never works according to human wisdom, to “common sense”, or to what an average person thinks make sense. Therefore you ought to be extremely cautious if your career path and your life goals make sense from a human perspective. God’s training ground is in the desert, it’s in the pasture, it’s in the wilderness. Many steps of my career have not made sense from a human perspective, and yet at every turn my witness and influence have expanded. There’s lots of openings in God’s roster for brave, bold and faithful people willing to do exploits. There’s no shortage of career advancement for these people. And I should add some exploits are done quietly, behind the scenes. There’s room for every faithful, non-compromiser, of every age and ability level (whether bold or shy).
Any Final Thoughts?
Our history and eschatology predispose some Christians and Adventists to look at this world as if it’s “going to hell in a handbasket”. Do not think that way. God put you on earth to make a difference, and you will either lose faith, or recede from society if you believe all is lost. We are to go forth conquering and to conquer. Conquering fear. Conquering doubt and lukewarmness. God is willing to revitalize America, Canada and the world. And He wants you to join in on the fun. Don’t disappoint Him.
There are better days ahead. Mark my words.
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