Students from the Max Bell School of Public Policy travel each year to Parliament to deepen their understanding about how Ottawa works. Their field trip began with a presentation about the different policy recruitment and development programs run by the Government of Canada. This was followed by a speed-mentoring session with policy professionals from across the public service. The speed mentors represented a wide range of backgrounds, departments, and levels of seniority. Students were highly engaged with the mentors about what careers in public policy looked like up close.
The Max Bell School is honored to be hosted in Ottawa each year by Francis Scarpaleggia, MP.
The students moved on to the offices of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, to hear from policy leaders involved in Cabinet decision-making, including executives from the Privy Council Office, Department of Finance, and Treasury Board Secretariat. They also had discussions with senior policy executives, including the Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Niall O’Dea), and the Secretary to the Treasury Board (Bill Matthews), who related their lessons-learned from a career spent leading policy files and teams. This was complemented by a visit Minister Anita Anand, who engaged the students on leadership in politics, including for women and visible minorities.
The next day the students went to the Privy Council Office of Canada (and sat in one of the rooms used for Cabinet Committee meetings!). There the students explored the dynamics of the federation in their conversation with Tushara Williams, the Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Relations. They also discussed the strategy and tactics involved in managing the transition of executive power (for example, when there is a change in governing party) with the Assistant Secretary for Machinery of Government, Allen Sutherland.
That afternoon the students toured the Parliament of Canada, guided by veteran MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who shared behind-the-scenes insights about how Parliamentarians work together to get things done. The students then observed a raucous question period in the House of Commons. This was followed by an in-depth discussion with the Honourable Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons, about the state of Canadian Parliamentary democracy and decorum in the House. Mr. Fergus shared personal stories and observations about his career journey serving the House of Commons.
Greg Fergus engages with Max Bell Students, sharing insights from his career
The interaction with elected officials continued the next day, when students had the opportunity to meet MPs from all political parties: the Liberals, Conservatives, New Democrats, Bloq Quebecois and Greens. Moderated by Mr. Scarpaleggia, the students asked about how elected officials find a balance between conflict and collaboration, as well as the between their views and the positions of their parties. The students went on to meet Chiefs of Staff and others working in Ministers Offices. They heard about the ongoing high-pressure environments to advance priorities, manage crises, and manage constituent and ministerial offices in a highly partisan environment.
Max Bell students engage in conversations with political leaders from Canada's various political parties
The students then had an opportunity to meet with several individual Cabinet Ministers. Minister Ya’ara Saks drew on her extensive international engagement experience to relate to the current conflict in the Middle East. The students also engaged her on the state of mental health in Canada, an area that is not only in the Minister’s portfolio, but also an area she has worked in and advocated for throughout her career. Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne engaged the students on the current economic policy imperatives facing the country, including the need for productivity-enhancing innovation, clean technology and international competitiveness. He shared inside stories from the negotiations with car battery manufacturers to locate manufacturing facilities in Canada. Minister Richie Valdez shared her journey as an immigrant and small business owner to being the first Filipino-Canadian woman elected in Palriament. She described the experience of entering Cabinet, and the dynamics of her leadership within government and in the public.
The final session of the field trip was a tour of the Supreme Court of Canada and a private meeting with Supreme Court Justice Malcolm Rowe. Justice Rowe explained the role of the Supreme Court across many policy issues, and explained the dynamics between Government, Parliament, and the Court. He compared the Canadian model with other constitutional courts across the world and over time.
Students were highly engaged throughout the field trip, learning up-close about policy leadership and the Ottawa policy ecosystem. They met interesting policy leaders and were energized about working in and around the Government of Canada in the future!
