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Publications about the
Canadian Parliamentary
Internship Program
Canadian Parliamentary
Internship Program
U.S. INTERNS TO THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT SEE HISTORY AS IT IS MADE
On a warm night in May, 2005, twenty-nine U.S. Interns to Parliament watched as the Liberal minority government of Prime Minister Paul Martin came within
an eyelash of falling in a vote of confidence.
Most of Dr. James Baker’s interns gained access to the House of Commons gallery with passes issued by the offices in which they worked for five weeks in
May and June. Others watched the dramatic events on television from their offices, and a few stood in lobbies outside the Commons listening to the
alternating cheers and groans from Members within, as the vote wavered from side to side.
The vote ended in a tie, with Speaker Peter Milliken casting the decisive vote to keep the government in place. All of the interns reported to Dr. Baker their
emotions at seeing history being made. They all reflected the attitudes of the parties with whom they were working during their internships. Students
working with Liberal M.P.s were as happy as if their universities had won an important sports match. Those with New Democrats were happy but considered
their party’s support of confidence part of a marriage of convenience, since it enabled the government to get on with the job of passing a far more socially-
oriented budget than the Liberals would have enacted alone.
Those with Conservative offices were disappointed but philosophical, vowing to wait for another chance to end the minority government. And those with the
Bloc Quebecois simply shrugged and said the whole scene was folly. The event demonstrated once more the value of having U.S. students work with the
offices of Members of the Canadian Parliament.
Their experiences in May 2005 have given them understanding of the Canadian system of government and prepared them to be players in what Dr. Baker
hopes will be greater U.S.- Canada cooperation and mutual achievement in the future.
On a warm night in May, 2005, twenty-nine U.S. Interns to Parliament watched as the Liberal minority government of Prime Minister Paul Martin came within
an eyelash of falling in a vote of confidence.
Most of Dr. James Baker’s interns gained access to the House of Commons gallery with passes issued by the offices in which they worked for five weeks in
May and June. Others watched the dramatic events on television from their offices, and a few stood in lobbies outside the Commons listening to the
alternating cheers and groans from Members within, as the vote wavered from side to side.
The vote ended in a tie, with Speaker Peter Milliken casting the decisive vote to keep the government in place. All of the interns reported to Dr. Baker their
emotions at seeing history being made. They all reflected the attitudes of the parties with whom they were working during their internships. Students
working with Liberal M.P.s were as happy as if their universities had won an important sports match. Those with New Democrats were happy but considered
their party’s support of confidence part of a marriage of convenience, since it enabled the government to get on with the job of passing a far more socially-
oriented budget than the Liberals would have enacted alone.
Those with Conservative offices were disappointed but philosophical, vowing to wait for another chance to end the minority government. And those with the
Bloc Quebecois simply shrugged and said the whole scene was folly. The event demonstrated once more the value of having U.S. students work with the
offices of Members of the Canadian Parliament.
Their experiences in May 2005 have given them understanding of the Canadian system of government and prepared them to be players in what Dr. Baker
hopes will be greater U.S.- Canada cooperation and mutual achievement in the future.
A U.S. Intern’s take on Canadian election, politics
‘I see that this nation can temper the otherwise extreme U.S. response to world affairs’: Tim Howard
By HEATHER RANDOLPH
Hello.
My name is Heather Randolph and I was one of 16 young interns selected for the U.S.-Canadian Parliamentary Internship Program. I’m from London,
Kentucky, and have spent the last month interning here in the newsroom at The Hill Times newspaper. I paid my own $1,600 U.S. to come here to learn
more about Canada and its federal election underway.
Last month, I hopped into my car, got onto the Interstate 75 and drove for more than 1,000 miles to Ottawa. I left London, Kentucky, on May 11 and arrived
in Ottawa on May 13.
Today, I think I can safely say, without sounding too corny, that every one of us in the U.S.-Canadian Parliamentary Internship felt honoured and a little
humbled by the experience. I came here because I was curious. I had a natural desire to understand more about Canada. I now return to my hometown in
the hills of Kentucky with a new appreciation for Canada and her people.
As part of this program, run by the Western Kentucky University’s professor James Baker, we came from different walks of life, areas of the country, and
institutions of higher learning.
So what sort of student would give up a large chunk of his or her summer, travel to a different country knowing no one, work not only for no reimbursement,
but actually pay a fee for the opportunity?
“The kind of students that I get are a little more adventuresome than most American students. They already want to profit by this experience. They want to
learn and they want to develop,”says Prof. Baker.
“Canadians are open to us and just so nice to us. I think they are aware that Americans in general don’t know much about them. When they find these
students that are willing to put down money, give up their summer, come here and work for them, they are just so welcoming. The students are treated so
well,”says Prof. Baker.
Buckley Warden, who is from South Carolina, interned with B.C. Conservative Senator Gerry St. Germain. Mr.Warden said he spent much of his time
researching and writing about Senate reform. In doing so, he has derived his own opinions of the essential nature of the Senate to Canadian government.
“The current anachronistic appointment process does not fit the modern mindset of the public, giving it little or no legitimacy as a Chamber in the eyes of the
public,”says Mr.Warden.
As a student of journalism, I was placed in an internship position at The Hill Times. In this position, I have witnessed a dedicated staff totally devoted to
producing a product worthy of its readers.
Further, I found myself in the unique position of being able to not only research Canada’s election process, but become a part of it by conducting various
interviews with candidates.
The interview experience proved to be one of the most difficult cultural boundaries I have encountered, mostly because of my obvious southern drawl. It was
not at all uncommon for the candidate to ask this Kentuckian to repeat a question. It was not at all uncommon for me to severely hack a candidate’s French-
rooted name due to my own personal linguistic limitations.
On the other hand, there were those Canadians who considered my southern drawl and dialect “charming,” and occasionally asked me to repeat an
expression. More than a few times I wondered if they were envisioning me at home in “Tara,”dressed in the trappings of a southern belle!
Other interns helped candidates get elected on the hustings.
Stephanie Lefebvre, who is from Indiana, interned with incumbent federal Agriculture Minister Bob Speller, who is running for re-election in Haldimand-
Norfolk, Ont.
“While canvassing with Minister Speller in his riding, I truly came to appreciate the accountability that is inherent in this system of government,”says Ms.
Lefebvre.
Amit Firoz, an Ohio student interning in the office of incumbent MP Alexa McDonough, who is running for re-election in Halifax, N.S., took a great interest in
the campaign of NDP candidate Monia Mazigh. He volunteered his time by talking to the constituents, aiding canvassers, and doing general office work in
Ottawa South, Ont., where Ms. Mazigh is running against Liberal David McGuinty and Conservative Allan Riddell.
“Spending my time at Monia Mazigh’s campaign in Ottawa South made me realize the intricacies involved in running a campaign for a brilliant Muslim woman
who is new in the political arena,”says Mr. Firoz, who added that these experiences will prove beneficial to him in his life.
“I am taking much of what I learn back to the United States. It is a very different type of system but yet the initial idea of reaching out to people is the same.”
“This trip has given me a new perspective on life and the world.This was my first trip outside the U.S. I had a very one-sided view of things while I was in the
U.S. Little did I know how lucky I really was to be in my current situation,”says intern Brian Steele, who is from Ohio and who interned with Conservative
incumbent MP Peter MacKay, who is running for re-election in Central Nova, N.S.
“The United States and Canada are on the same continent so therefore what happens to one affects the other,”says intern Tim Howard, who is from
Kentucky and interned for incumbent NDP MP Brian Masse. Mr. Masse is running for re-election in Windsor West, Ont.
“Since I have been in Canada, I’ve realized the independence of this nation, but also I see that this nation can temper the otherwise extreme American
response to world affairs.”
For my part, I definitely realize a stronger sense of acceptance in regard to various outlooks, opinions, and cultural differences. Some changes will affect the
way I conduct myself as a United States citizen. I truly have come to believe that it is imperative we open our eyes to our neighbouring countries, that we
seek to know and understand them.
We interns were essentially given the chance to learn about politics, to learn about Canada, to learn about ourselves as individuals, and to understand the
experience as Americans in a different country.What greater opportunity is there than to be given a chance to work with government officials who make the
decisions affecting an entire nation? What greater means is there to understand a system of government much different than our own? What better way to
understand a culture than to speak and work with its’ citizens?
My thoughts were not unique. I believe the interns all have reached the same consensus.The experience has helped all of my fellow interns realize how
essential Canada and U.S. relations are, not only to North America, but to the world.
My experiences these weeks in Canada have been nothing but positive. I believe that is true of all of my fellow interns. This program has done what it set out
to do. Sixteen young United States citizens will now call the citizens of Canada “friends.”
THE HILL TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 21 - JUNE 27, 2004
‘I see that this nation can temper the otherwise extreme U.S. response to world affairs’: Tim Howard
By HEATHER RANDOLPH
Hello.
My name is Heather Randolph and I was one of 16 young interns selected for the U.S.-Canadian Parliamentary Internship Program. I’m from London,
Kentucky, and have spent the last month interning here in the newsroom at The Hill Times newspaper. I paid my own $1,600 U.S. to come here to learn
more about Canada and its federal election underway.
Last month, I hopped into my car, got onto the Interstate 75 and drove for more than 1,000 miles to Ottawa. I left London, Kentucky, on May 11 and arrived
in Ottawa on May 13.
Today, I think I can safely say, without sounding too corny, that every one of us in the U.S.-Canadian Parliamentary Internship felt honoured and a little
humbled by the experience. I came here because I was curious. I had a natural desire to understand more about Canada. I now return to my hometown in
the hills of Kentucky with a new appreciation for Canada and her people.
As part of this program, run by the Western Kentucky University’s professor James Baker, we came from different walks of life, areas of the country, and
institutions of higher learning.
So what sort of student would give up a large chunk of his or her summer, travel to a different country knowing no one, work not only for no reimbursement,
but actually pay a fee for the opportunity?
“The kind of students that I get are a little more adventuresome than most American students. They already want to profit by this experience. They want to
learn and they want to develop,”says Prof. Baker.
“Canadians are open to us and just so nice to us. I think they are aware that Americans in general don’t know much about them. When they find these
students that are willing to put down money, give up their summer, come here and work for them, they are just so welcoming. The students are treated so
well,”says Prof. Baker.
Buckley Warden, who is from South Carolina, interned with B.C. Conservative Senator Gerry St. Germain. Mr.Warden said he spent much of his time
researching and writing about Senate reform. In doing so, he has derived his own opinions of the essential nature of the Senate to Canadian government.
“The current anachronistic appointment process does not fit the modern mindset of the public, giving it little or no legitimacy as a Chamber in the eyes of the
public,”says Mr.Warden.
As a student of journalism, I was placed in an internship position at The Hill Times. In this position, I have witnessed a dedicated staff totally devoted to
producing a product worthy of its readers.
Further, I found myself in the unique position of being able to not only research Canada’s election process, but become a part of it by conducting various
interviews with candidates.
The interview experience proved to be one of the most difficult cultural boundaries I have encountered, mostly because of my obvious southern drawl. It was
not at all uncommon for the candidate to ask this Kentuckian to repeat a question. It was not at all uncommon for me to severely hack a candidate’s French-
rooted name due to my own personal linguistic limitations.
On the other hand, there were those Canadians who considered my southern drawl and dialect “charming,” and occasionally asked me to repeat an
expression. More than a few times I wondered if they were envisioning me at home in “Tara,”dressed in the trappings of a southern belle!
Other interns helped candidates get elected on the hustings.
Stephanie Lefebvre, who is from Indiana, interned with incumbent federal Agriculture Minister Bob Speller, who is running for re-election in Haldimand-
Norfolk, Ont.
“While canvassing with Minister Speller in his riding, I truly came to appreciate the accountability that is inherent in this system of government,”says Ms.
Lefebvre.
Amit Firoz, an Ohio student interning in the office of incumbent MP Alexa McDonough, who is running for re-election in Halifax, N.S., took a great interest in
the campaign of NDP candidate Monia Mazigh. He volunteered his time by talking to the constituents, aiding canvassers, and doing general office work in
Ottawa South, Ont., where Ms. Mazigh is running against Liberal David McGuinty and Conservative Allan Riddell.
“Spending my time at Monia Mazigh’s campaign in Ottawa South made me realize the intricacies involved in running a campaign for a brilliant Muslim woman
who is new in the political arena,”says Mr. Firoz, who added that these experiences will prove beneficial to him in his life.
“I am taking much of what I learn back to the United States. It is a very different type of system but yet the initial idea of reaching out to people is the same.”
“This trip has given me a new perspective on life and the world.This was my first trip outside the U.S. I had a very one-sided view of things while I was in the
U.S. Little did I know how lucky I really was to be in my current situation,”says intern Brian Steele, who is from Ohio and who interned with Conservative
incumbent MP Peter MacKay, who is running for re-election in Central Nova, N.S.
“The United States and Canada are on the same continent so therefore what happens to one affects the other,”says intern Tim Howard, who is from
Kentucky and interned for incumbent NDP MP Brian Masse. Mr. Masse is running for re-election in Windsor West, Ont.
“Since I have been in Canada, I’ve realized the independence of this nation, but also I see that this nation can temper the otherwise extreme American
response to world affairs.”
For my part, I definitely realize a stronger sense of acceptance in regard to various outlooks, opinions, and cultural differences. Some changes will affect the
way I conduct myself as a United States citizen. I truly have come to believe that it is imperative we open our eyes to our neighbouring countries, that we
seek to know and understand them.
We interns were essentially given the chance to learn about politics, to learn about Canada, to learn about ourselves as individuals, and to understand the
experience as Americans in a different country.What greater opportunity is there than to be given a chance to work with government officials who make the
decisions affecting an entire nation? What greater means is there to understand a system of government much different than our own? What better way to
understand a culture than to speak and work with its’ citizens?
My thoughts were not unique. I believe the interns all have reached the same consensus.The experience has helped all of my fellow interns realize how
essential Canada and U.S. relations are, not only to North America, but to the world.
My experiences these weeks in Canada have been nothing but positive. I believe that is true of all of my fellow interns. This program has done what it set out
to do. Sixteen young United States citizens will now call the citizens of Canada “friends.”
THE HILL TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 21 - JUNE 27, 2004
The Hill Times on the internship after the 2003 session of Parliament:
'Internship programs are a win-win': Maloney
By Sima Kotecha
PARLIAMENT HILL--Every summer, Parliament Hill welcomes more than 50 interns from across the globe. From the United States to the Ukraine, interns
come to Ottawa to gain valuable work experience, enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Parliament Hill and capture its unique feel by enrolling in a summer
internship program. For five to 10 weeks, the MPs' offices are flooded by young people who are eager to experience life in politics and gain a sense of
Canadian culture.
Interns apply to work on Parliament Hill through various university or college programs. On an annual basis students are given the opportunity to work for a
Canadian MP or Senator. Before coming to Ottawa, students are questioned about their political views and then are placed in an office according to their
interests. It is not only the interns who benefit from this whole process suggests Liberal MP John Maloney, who represents Erie-Lincoln, Ont., and is an avid
supporter of interns. "There are no losers. Internship programs are always a win-win situation. Not only do we challenge the interns, but they also challenge
us by asking intelligent questions and presenting us with political cultural differences."
"Part of the application process involved questions regarding political interest and affiliation. I will be applying to the joint J.D. program at University of
Ottawa, so Mr. Maloney's placement on the Justice Committee was of particular interest to me," Kim Nelson, a U.S. intern, told The Hill Times. But working
on the Hill is not always easy. Interns are intellectually challenged as they are assigned a range of complex tasks such as dealing with everyday
correspondences, composing promotional literature, carrying out regular administrative duties and trying to help manage angry constituents. For those
students who are looking for hands-on office experience, this opportunity provides valuable skills that will help with future employment opportunities.
Throughout the summer period, the Parliamentary calendar is packed with social events ranging from the Prime Minister's Garden Party to the Brewer's BBQ
in the West Block courtyard held last month in Ottawa. "The social events on the Hill are amazing. Not only do we have a good time but we also get to meet
the Prime Minister of Canada!" said Nikki Haney, an American intern working for Liberal MP Dennis Mills, who represents Toronto-Danforth, Ont. The Prime
Minister's Garden Party was definitely the highlight of the summer. Every June, the PM invites Hill staff to his home and hosts a garden gathering with a buffet
and drinks. This year, all Liberal interns attended the function and got the chance to meet and greet the man himself. The interns are made very welcome
and are given the opportunity to meet official staff and mingle with those who share a passion for politics.
James T. Baker, a history professor...organizes the U.S. internship program on Parliament Hill and has been doing so for the last four years. "Each year I
am overwhelmed by the way people in Ottawa and at Parliament welcome our interns, work so hard to make their experience beneficial, and encourage us to
come back. To me that is the Canadian Spirit, and I hope it lives forever".
Sima Kotecha, who is on an internship from Britain, has been a communications intern with Liberal MP Dennis Mills' office on Parliament Hill.
© July 28, 2003 The Hill Times
'Internship programs are a win-win': Maloney
By Sima Kotecha
PARLIAMENT HILL--Every summer, Parliament Hill welcomes more than 50 interns from across the globe. From the United States to the Ukraine, interns
come to Ottawa to gain valuable work experience, enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Parliament Hill and capture its unique feel by enrolling in a summer
internship program. For five to 10 weeks, the MPs' offices are flooded by young people who are eager to experience life in politics and gain a sense of
Canadian culture.
Interns apply to work on Parliament Hill through various university or college programs. On an annual basis students are given the opportunity to work for a
Canadian MP or Senator. Before coming to Ottawa, students are questioned about their political views and then are placed in an office according to their
interests. It is not only the interns who benefit from this whole process suggests Liberal MP John Maloney, who represents Erie-Lincoln, Ont., and is an avid
supporter of interns. "There are no losers. Internship programs are always a win-win situation. Not only do we challenge the interns, but they also challenge
us by asking intelligent questions and presenting us with political cultural differences."
"Part of the application process involved questions regarding political interest and affiliation. I will be applying to the joint J.D. program at University of
Ottawa, so Mr. Maloney's placement on the Justice Committee was of particular interest to me," Kim Nelson, a U.S. intern, told The Hill Times. But working
on the Hill is not always easy. Interns are intellectually challenged as they are assigned a range of complex tasks such as dealing with everyday
correspondences, composing promotional literature, carrying out regular administrative duties and trying to help manage angry constituents. For those
students who are looking for hands-on office experience, this opportunity provides valuable skills that will help with future employment opportunities.
Throughout the summer period, the Parliamentary calendar is packed with social events ranging from the Prime Minister's Garden Party to the Brewer's BBQ
in the West Block courtyard held last month in Ottawa. "The social events on the Hill are amazing. Not only do we have a good time but we also get to meet
the Prime Minister of Canada!" said Nikki Haney, an American intern working for Liberal MP Dennis Mills, who represents Toronto-Danforth, Ont. The Prime
Minister's Garden Party was definitely the highlight of the summer. Every June, the PM invites Hill staff to his home and hosts a garden gathering with a buffet
and drinks. This year, all Liberal interns attended the function and got the chance to meet and greet the man himself. The interns are made very welcome
and are given the opportunity to meet official staff and mingle with those who share a passion for politics.
James T. Baker, a history professor...organizes the U.S. internship program on Parliament Hill and has been doing so for the last four years. "Each year I
am overwhelmed by the way people in Ottawa and at Parliament welcome our interns, work so hard to make their experience beneficial, and encourage us to
come back. To me that is the Canadian Spirit, and I hope it lives forever".
Sima Kotecha, who is on an internship from Britain, has been a communications intern with Liberal MP Dennis Mills' office on Parliament Hill.
© July 28, 2003 The Hill Times
Autumn 2001 issue, Volume 20, Number 3 of the The Canadian Studies Update had the following to say about the Canadian Parliament
Internship Program:
The Canadian Parliament Internship program, which places students in the offices of members of Parliament, either the House of Commons or the Senate,
was formed more than 15 years ago by Helen Graves, a professor at the University of Michigan. When she retired in 1998, James Baker, a professor of
history... stepped up to take over the program after hearing about the opportunity at a Canadian studies roundtable.
When Baker took over, the program was primarily targeted to University of Michigan students. Baker has since broadened the program and taken it
nationwide. This past spring, Baker's fourth year of operating the program, interns came from nine different universities in seven different states.... Baker,
who teaches a number of history courses, offers one course in Canadian history that is considered to be the keystone of [CPIP's] program.
In the four years that Baker has been handling the five-week program which runs from the end of May through June, he has collected names of Parliament
members, such as Bob Speller, Peter McKay, and David Kilgour, who have been particularly receptive to sponsoring interns and who understand that the
program's primary goal is education. Baker placed two interns in the Senate for the first time this year. He tries to place interns with all the parties if he can:
"That way they hear varying sides of the issues when they talk among themselves." Interns may request which party and what area of expertise the member
represents, and Baker makes every effort to fulfill each request. Interns may also be placed with the Assembly of First Nations.
Baker generally places between 12 and 15 interns each year - this year he had twelve. Although it may seem odd for a member of Canadian Parliament to
use an American intern, Baker notes, "It's an educational thing. They like Americans to learn more about Canada and this is a way of doing that...If there's a
shortage of space in an office they do prefer Canadians because they stay longer and probably know the system a little bit better."
Many of his interns are pre-law students or are interested in political science. Several have been mass communications majors, and Baker notes that those
who excel in communications work out well "because a lot of the work that they do in the offices has to do with communicating with constituents, answering
letters and things like that, so people who can write and who are good at communications are a good choice." Interns may be asked to answer constituency
mail, assist in writing and editing materials to be sent to the Member's riding, research issues of importance to the member, write a statement/question for
Question Period, write speeches, take constituents on tours of Parliament, digest newspapers and magazines, and do general office work.
Being a Canadian studies minor or major is not a criterion for qualifying for the internship, as long as a student has an interest in international politics, says
Baker. Although it's not an absolute, Baker prefers for interns to be at the end of their junior year. Students do have to have a strong letter of
recommendation from a faculty member. In addition, they have to fill out a form indicating their accomplishments and provide a sample of something they've
written. "I need to know that they can write well because so much of [the] work they do is correspondence," explains Baker.
Baker starts publicizing the program each September and soliciting applications in the fall for a winter decision on the spring placement. The number of
interns he can place is flexible and Baker says he would accept as many people who are qualified. The internship program is mainly publicized through other
Canadian studies professors or professors who are Canadianists around the country so that Baker can do a mass e-mailing. Baker also has a link on a web
site dedicated to summer programs and internship opportunities.
Interns are unpaid for their work, which often entails long hours. The first weekend, before the interns begin working, Baker takes them around to various
museums and other key sites for an orientation of the city. The program costs $1600 which includes lodging at a University of Ottawa residence center with
kitchen privileges.
Baker himself lives at the dorm during the duration of the program in order to provide oversight. He drops by the offices to make sure each intern is working
out and also takes each intern and the workers in each office out for lunch at least once during the program's duration. Baker will arrange for credit at each
student's university, which can range from three to six credit hours. He has also helped discover what each student's school might offer in terms of loans or
scholarships. Indiana University, notes Baker, gave half scholarships to two Indiana University students this year.
By being on site, Baker can resolve any problems and counsel interns. "I really haven't had too much trouble with anybody being misplaced yet," he says.
"But if that were to happen I could find a new office for them and keep everything straight." Baker tries to get every member of Parliament who hosts an
intern to speak before the entire group which invariably turns out to be a highlight for the interns. This last year eleven out of the twelve members had a
chance to talk.
The major advantage of being in the internship program, emphasizes Baker, "is the ability to study a different form of democratic government. Both the
Canadian and US government are democratic forms but they're very different and this is a good way to compare and contrast. Secondarily, it makes interns
acquainted with Canadian issues and Canadian ways of doing things. I really feel that with NAFTA the opportunities are going to be much greater in the
future than ever before for people to either do business or law across the border. If this group of Americans can learn a lot about Canada they'll be in a good
position to take advantage of some of those opportunities later on."
Feedback from the interns has generally been positive. "I've discovered that it takes a year maybe for the students to realize the value of the program. It's
pretty hard work, it's a little bit of a strange circumstance. Sometimes when I ask them at the end they'll say, 'Well, it's been all right.' Then I'll get letters six
months or a year later in which they say they've begun to value their experiences, then they'll start writing and asking for letters of recommendation. Many of
them keep in touch with their offices and people back in Ottawa."
Members of Parliament have been more quick to compliment the program. As Baker notes, interns arrive at a busy time, legislatively, "so a student who is
aggressive can really jump right in and help them out a lot....Many of those students really make a contribution." Baker feels that the 2001 group was the
best so far, due to the personality of the students, their enthusiasm as evidenced by the questions they asked, and their level of involvement. He believes
that this indicates that the program is growing.
Baker is glad he has adopted the internship program. "For a long time I had taken students to Britain for summer studies, but it was with a large organization.
[I was attracted to the idea of] being my own boss, planning things, and being able to make changes without having to consult people all the time. I'd been to
Canada and I taught Canadian history and I enjoy being there. It's a very pleasant place to go and be."
Internship Program:
The Canadian Parliament Internship program, which places students in the offices of members of Parliament, either the House of Commons or the Senate,
was formed more than 15 years ago by Helen Graves, a professor at the University of Michigan. When she retired in 1998, James Baker, a professor of
history... stepped up to take over the program after hearing about the opportunity at a Canadian studies roundtable.
When Baker took over, the program was primarily targeted to University of Michigan students. Baker has since broadened the program and taken it
nationwide. This past spring, Baker's fourth year of operating the program, interns came from nine different universities in seven different states.... Baker,
who teaches a number of history courses, offers one course in Canadian history that is considered to be the keystone of [CPIP's] program.
In the four years that Baker has been handling the five-week program which runs from the end of May through June, he has collected names of Parliament
members, such as Bob Speller, Peter McKay, and David Kilgour, who have been particularly receptive to sponsoring interns and who understand that the
program's primary goal is education. Baker placed two interns in the Senate for the first time this year. He tries to place interns with all the parties if he can:
"That way they hear varying sides of the issues when they talk among themselves." Interns may request which party and what area of expertise the member
represents, and Baker makes every effort to fulfill each request. Interns may also be placed with the Assembly of First Nations.
Baker generally places between 12 and 15 interns each year - this year he had twelve. Although it may seem odd for a member of Canadian Parliament to
use an American intern, Baker notes, "It's an educational thing. They like Americans to learn more about Canada and this is a way of doing that...If there's a
shortage of space in an office they do prefer Canadians because they stay longer and probably know the system a little bit better."
Many of his interns are pre-law students or are interested in political science. Several have been mass communications majors, and Baker notes that those
who excel in communications work out well "because a lot of the work that they do in the offices has to do with communicating with constituents, answering
letters and things like that, so people who can write and who are good at communications are a good choice." Interns may be asked to answer constituency
mail, assist in writing and editing materials to be sent to the Member's riding, research issues of importance to the member, write a statement/question for
Question Period, write speeches, take constituents on tours of Parliament, digest newspapers and magazines, and do general office work.
Being a Canadian studies minor or major is not a criterion for qualifying for the internship, as long as a student has an interest in international politics, says
Baker. Although it's not an absolute, Baker prefers for interns to be at the end of their junior year. Students do have to have a strong letter of
recommendation from a faculty member. In addition, they have to fill out a form indicating their accomplishments and provide a sample of something they've
written. "I need to know that they can write well because so much of [the] work they do is correspondence," explains Baker.
Baker starts publicizing the program each September and soliciting applications in the fall for a winter decision on the spring placement. The number of
interns he can place is flexible and Baker says he would accept as many people who are qualified. The internship program is mainly publicized through other
Canadian studies professors or professors who are Canadianists around the country so that Baker can do a mass e-mailing. Baker also has a link on a web
site dedicated to summer programs and internship opportunities.
Interns are unpaid for their work, which often entails long hours. The first weekend, before the interns begin working, Baker takes them around to various
museums and other key sites for an orientation of the city. The program costs $1600 which includes lodging at a University of Ottawa residence center with
kitchen privileges.
Baker himself lives at the dorm during the duration of the program in order to provide oversight. He drops by the offices to make sure each intern is working
out and also takes each intern and the workers in each office out for lunch at least once during the program's duration. Baker will arrange for credit at each
student's university, which can range from three to six credit hours. He has also helped discover what each student's school might offer in terms of loans or
scholarships. Indiana University, notes Baker, gave half scholarships to two Indiana University students this year.
By being on site, Baker can resolve any problems and counsel interns. "I really haven't had too much trouble with anybody being misplaced yet," he says.
"But if that were to happen I could find a new office for them and keep everything straight." Baker tries to get every member of Parliament who hosts an
intern to speak before the entire group which invariably turns out to be a highlight for the interns. This last year eleven out of the twelve members had a
chance to talk.
The major advantage of being in the internship program, emphasizes Baker, "is the ability to study a different form of democratic government. Both the
Canadian and US government are democratic forms but they're very different and this is a good way to compare and contrast. Secondarily, it makes interns
acquainted with Canadian issues and Canadian ways of doing things. I really feel that with NAFTA the opportunities are going to be much greater in the
future than ever before for people to either do business or law across the border. If this group of Americans can learn a lot about Canada they'll be in a good
position to take advantage of some of those opportunities later on."
Feedback from the interns has generally been positive. "I've discovered that it takes a year maybe for the students to realize the value of the program. It's
pretty hard work, it's a little bit of a strange circumstance. Sometimes when I ask them at the end they'll say, 'Well, it's been all right.' Then I'll get letters six
months or a year later in which they say they've begun to value their experiences, then they'll start writing and asking for letters of recommendation. Many of
them keep in touch with their offices and people back in Ottawa."
Members of Parliament have been more quick to compliment the program. As Baker notes, interns arrive at a busy time, legislatively, "so a student who is
aggressive can really jump right in and help them out a lot....Many of those students really make a contribution." Baker feels that the 2001 group was the
best so far, due to the personality of the students, their enthusiasm as evidenced by the questions they asked, and their level of involvement. He believes
that this indicates that the program is growing.
Baker is glad he has adopted the internship program. "For a long time I had taken students to Britain for summer studies, but it was with a large organization.
[I was attracted to the idea of] being my own boss, planning things, and being able to make changes without having to consult people all the time. I'd been to
Canada and I taught Canadian history and I enjoy being there. It's a very pleasant place to go and be."
Copyright: Dr. James T. Baker
Last Updated 11.2007
Last Updated 11.2007
Randall B. Ripley - Emeritus Professor - Department of Political Science - Ohio State University - November 2007
CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: THE PERSPECTIVE FROM OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
[Prepared at the request of the American Political Science Association]
O CANADA!
One “overseas” location for political science students to gain some real world experience that sharpens their understanding of politics in general is
usually overlooked: Canada.
Particularly for students with some knowledge of and interest in American politics Canada provides a natural and wonderful comparative laboratory.
Students can explore a number of institutional arrangements for governing that are different from those in the United States: a Parliamentary system; more
than two national parties who elect members of Parliament; a very loose federalism with provinces more powerful than American states; spotty articulation
between federal parties and provincial parties; a written Constitution only 25 years old that, among other things, suddenly elevated the Supreme Court to a
position as a major interpreter of rights and freedoms; and, of course, a linguistic minority, primarily in Quebec, that is much more potent politically than
linguistic minorities in the United States. They can also make comparisons between major national policies in areas such as health care, same-sex
marriage, taxation, foreign policy, and immigration.
I have long been interested in Canadian politics. But, for a variety of reasons, I did nothing about that interest for many years except read and add
occasional footnotes to studies of various aspects of American politics noting different Canadian practice and experience. In a brief period of time in 2003 I
found several ways to make my interest concrete.
As I was nearing the end of a long college deanship at Ohio State I became aware of a program open to students from U.S. colleges and universities
that sounded like a splendid way to get some Ohio State students to Canada in a position to see the working of part of the political system there first-hand.
This program, run throughout its ten-year history by historian James Baker, offers an opportunity to about 30-40 American students annually to work in
Ottawa for five weeks in May and June as interns assigned to individual Members of Parliament. See his program website: http://bakerincanada.com.
I learned about the details of the program, talked with Professor Baker at some length, and decided this was a marvelous opportunity to get Ohio State
students to see a bit of another political system first-hand. For the 2004 program the principal counselor in the Political Science Department at Ohio State
successfully recruited three good students who applied to Professor Baker and were accepted for the program. Although I was still wrapping up my job as a
college dean I made arrangements to have a seminar on Canadian politics with these students for the first seven weeks of spring quarter before they went
to Ottawa. None of them knew anything about Canada but they were all smart and through considerable reading, discussion, and use of the internet
[especially to watch Parliament in action, especially during Question Period], they went to Ottawa with some basic knowledge. They were each assigned to
an MP from a different national political party: the Liberals, the Conservatives, and the New Democratic Party. [Professor Baker assigns students to MPs
from all four parties currently represented in Parliament, including the Bloc Quebecois as well as the three just mentioned.] As it turned out, the Prime
Minister called an election for late June, 2004, so they each got to work in a national campaign rather than in Parliament itself. Collectively, they had duties
both in the constituencies [ridings] of their members and in Ottawa at the national party headquarters. They all had fine experiences. I was hooked on the
program
I returned to the faculty from the college office in July 2004 and also saw this as a teaching opportunity for me both during 2004-05 when I was still a
full-time faculty member and into the years of formal retirement. Consequently, I designed a regular course on Canadian politics that I first gave in the
winter of 2005 [winter quarter runs from right after New Year’s to mid-March] and have given every winter since then. It is open to any student who is
interested and is required of students accepted for the program in Ottawa. It is a general introduction to Canadian politics and necessarily also contains
some treatment of Canadian history, geography, culture, ideology, and socio-economic matters. I also decided that the students going to Ottawa should
continue to have a seminar more specifically focused on Parliament for the first seven weeks of spring quarter [late March to early May] before their journey
north.
Three different chairs of the Political Science Department have supported me in this teaching pattern. Our department has long been involved with a
number of study abroad programs as well as a number of internships in both central Ohio and Washington. The program in Ottawa contains elements of
both study [the students are required to do some written work in Ottawa that is evaluated by Professor Baker] and internship [they are responsible to an MP
and, in practice, to his/her principal staff member]. Naturally, I am grateful for this continuing Departmental support.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM
The program is, of course, not exclusively for students from Ohio State, although we have developed a sizeable presence in the program over the last
few years. I will describe that presence after I describe the program in general.
Professor Baker publicizes the program through the aforementioned website, personal contacts with colleagues at a number of U.S. colleges and
universities, and personal visits to a number of state Canadian Studies Roundtables [I first learned of the program from a presentation he made at the Ohio
Canadian Studies Roundtable], and recruiting visits to individual colleges and universities [he comes to Ohio State, for example, for a very helpful
informational meeting every October].
There is not a firm deadline for application, although he likes to have most of the applications by U.S. Thanksgiving and certainly by Christmas. He
accepts students as they complete satisfactory applications [which include assessments by faculty members who know the applicants].
He asks the students if they have preferences for working for a particular party in Parliament and also if they have ideological preferences and
particular areas of policy in which they are interested. He takes these preferences into account in the winter as he does the work of placing students in
specific offices. Over the years he has come to know the best offices for interns—where they will get to do real work, where the supervising staff member is
good to work for, where the MP himself/herself is open to interaction with the student, and so on. Through 2007 Ohio State has had 26 students in the
program. All but two were very pleased, and often thrilled, with their assignments and their experience on Parliament Hill. I poked into the cases of the two
students who were not particularly happy and, as I suspected, it was clear they were the problem, not their Canadian hosts or their assignments. The
numbers for May/June 2008 are not final yet, but I expect about a dozen Ohio State students to go to Ottawa then.
One of the strongest points of this internship is that Parliament, unlike Congress, has very modest staff resources. The typical member has one staff
member in Ottawa and limited staff in the riding. This means that in Ottawa student interns who come knowing something about Canadian politics and
Parliament specifically are immediately put to doing real work. Answering phones, opening mail, and making coffee all too often characterize the “duties” of
student interns in the U.S. Congress. That clearly is not the case in Parliament. Returning students proudly speak of the important committee meetings to
which they are sent to represent their MP. They also speak glowingly of portions of speeches they wrote that are delivered on the floor of the House of
Commons and appear in Hansard, the official record of the proceedings. One MP always co-authors a short policy paper with his intern for publication.
Although five weeks is a short time, the experience is intense and real.
Professor Baker accompanies the students to Canada and supervises them there. They live in a dormitory at the University of Ottawa, which is within
walking distance of Parliament. He also arranges special events for them both in Ottawa and in a few field trips. In Ottawa they meet with the Speaker of
the House of Commons. They meet with the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the Senate. They meet U.S. diplomats at the American embassy in
Ottawa. They take weekend trips to places such as Montreal and Quebec City.
OHIO STATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM
The overall program involves between 30 and 40 students from, usually, 12-15 or more U.S. universities and colleges in a wide range of states. In
several years since Ohio State students began participating, the Ohio State contingent has been the largest [9 in 2005, 12 in 2007, and probably about 12
in 2008]. Most of the Ohio State students are political science majors, although a few are double majoring or majoring in a closely related discipline [e.g.,
history, communication, international studies]. We publicize the program widely, with the primary focus on political science students and a secondary focus
on students in history, sociology, geography, international studies, and communication.
Two people at Ohio State are centrally involved in recruiting potential participants: the internship coordinator in the Department and me. A specific
staff member in the University’s Office of International Affairs processes the students and knows the program quite well. We use a variety of channels for
getting information to students. We use both blanket e-mails to majors and specialized e-mails to students we know and to counselors in other
departments. In the course I teach on the U.S. Congress each spring I describe the program and try to recruit some of the strongest students to be
interested in it. We also use alumni of the program who are still in school at Ohio State to help describe and promote the program. And, of course,
Professor Baker’s October visit is a major event in getting information to students who might be interested.
Virtually all of the other students in the program come from colleges and universities on the semester system. This means they are through with spring
semester before they go to Ottawa. The Ohio State students on a quarter system are, of course, in a different situation, since spring quarter runs from late
March into early June. Ohio State quickly worked out a favorable accommodation for students who want to participate in the program. In the winter the
students enrolled in my course on Canadian politics get five hours of graded credit. That is very straightforward. In the spring they receive five hours of
satisfactory/unsatisfactory credit for the seminar with me. The seminar requires considerable reading, a lot of discussion based on reading, and a written
detailed profile of the MP to which each student has been assigned [the seminar runs from late March to early May; Professor Baker has assignments
completed by early to mid-March at the latest]. They get 10 hours of graded credit in Ottawa from Professor Baker based on a detailed portfolio they
construct for him and his consultation with their office. This gives them 15 hours credit for spring semester [a full load]. The credit for my seminar is
political science credit. The 10 hours from Ottawa can be used for their major if the relevant department agrees [Political Science counts these ten hours
toward a major]. Professor Baker has noted that the OSU quarter system works very well in helping the students focus on the internship, with considerable
prior academic preparation.
Ohio State has also made the program quite affordable. Regular tuition at Ohio State rates covers the cost of the program, including their dorm room
in Ottawa. The only additional expense is a $100 application fee and the cost of getting to and from Ottawa. Presumably, the students would eat no matter
where they were [although the collapse of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar is not doing the students any favors at the moment].
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Ohio State students generally get hooked on Canadian politics, which are, indeed, very interesting. They demonstrate this fascination in a variety of
ways. A number of the previous interns take the Congress course I teach after they return. In the discussions in that course they will often make
comparative points about Congress, citing the Canadian Parliament. [A number of students who go to Ottawa take the Congress course first and in the
later classes on Canada make comparative points drawing on their knowledge of Congress.] This instinct to compare institutions furthers the students’
understanding of both of them, giving tangible support to the classic case for studying any political phenomenon comparatively.
Some of the students follow Canadian politics closely after returning. For example, the most recent federal election in Canada was held in January
2006. I was at my computer at home watching returns on the internet from a variety of Canadian sources. About midnight two of the students who had
been to Ottawa the previous May/June began e-mailing me with their observations on the unfolding results and I e-mailed them back with my own
observations. We continued this three-way round robin exchange until about 2:30 in the morning, when the returns were basically complete. They, of
course, were particularly interested in how their “own” MPs had done, but they also were quite insightful in commenting on the overall trend and meaning of
the election. [And it was a significant election, replacing a minority Liberal government with a minority Conservative government.]
Another student, who was in the program in the spring of 2006, continues to have e-mail exchanges with me after significant events in the life of the
House of Commons and the government. She comments very intelligently on matters such as new governmental budgets, Speeches from the Throne
outlining the government’s priorities, and various votes of confidence, any one of which could oust the government and cause an election.
One student was so enamored of life on Parliament Hill that he successfully sought full-time paid employment as a staff member for an MP. He was
successful and after graduating in summer quarter following his internship in Ottawa he returned there to take up his new job. He has since moved to work
for another MP.
Naturally, not all of the students get as immersed and excited as the examples just given. But, whether they always know it or not, they have had an
intellectual experience that broadens their horizons in studying the political system of the United States or any other country. They can always use their
Canadian experience to make comparative points. And, of course, interacting with students from 12 to 15 other colleges and universities during the
internship itself has enormous value as the students, with different perspectives and experience, learn a great deal from each other.
There are also practical values to this internship. The Ohio State students, of course, get to know the students from other universities and colleges
who are participating in the program and I am sure they form some good friendships. They also make some Canadian friends. They are invited to use their
MP as a reference for graduate school, law school, other internships, or jobs. And they get to see a bit of our northern neighbor, a country similar enough
to the United States so as not to leave them lost, but different enough on a number of dimensions to be intriguing and stimulating.
DO’S AND DON’T’S
This program brings to mind some more general do’s and don’ts for internship programs overseas [or even over the Great Lakes, as in this case].
Do:
--publicize the program widely, repeatedly, and to a number of audiences on campus.
--make sure the publicity contains not just the academic details of the program but also more practical aspects such as cost.
--prepare students carefully for the specific internship to which they are going.
--screen students carefully. A few, for a variety of reasons, would really not be good interns.
--be sure the assignments to supervisors/agencies in the host country are made with great care.
--give appropriate academic credit.
Don’t:
--ignore any of the above items on the “do” list.
--waive any part of the preparation requirements on the home campus.
--send students to a program in another country where they are not accompanied by a U.S. academic who is with them for routine matters,
for emergencies of various kinds, and for helping put their experiences in context at the time they are having the experiences.
--give more academic credit than the program is genuinely worth.
CONCLUSION
I have been involved in a number of ways with a variety of internships in the United States [in Congress, in other Washington agencies and lobbies,
and in their analogs at the state and local level in Ohio/Columbus]. Those internships are extremely valuable. But I think the extra comparative dimension
of an internship in another country brings additional opportunities for stretching the mind and making comparative observations that simply cannot be
offered by internships in the United States. I would also argue that the comparative value of the internship is enhanced if the site of the intership is in a
country that is, by definition, different from the United States but not so different as to be somewhat incomprehensible. Canada fits this description very well
and is an excellent internship site that should not be overlooked.
CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: THE PERSPECTIVE FROM OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
[Prepared at the request of the American Political Science Association]
O CANADA!
One “overseas” location for political science students to gain some real world experience that sharpens their understanding of politics in general is
usually overlooked: Canada.
Particularly for students with some knowledge of and interest in American politics Canada provides a natural and wonderful comparative laboratory.
Students can explore a number of institutional arrangements for governing that are different from those in the United States: a Parliamentary system; more
than two national parties who elect members of Parliament; a very loose federalism with provinces more powerful than American states; spotty articulation
between federal parties and provincial parties; a written Constitution only 25 years old that, among other things, suddenly elevated the Supreme Court to a
position as a major interpreter of rights and freedoms; and, of course, a linguistic minority, primarily in Quebec, that is much more potent politically than
linguistic minorities in the United States. They can also make comparisons between major national policies in areas such as health care, same-sex
marriage, taxation, foreign policy, and immigration.
I have long been interested in Canadian politics. But, for a variety of reasons, I did nothing about that interest for many years except read and add
occasional footnotes to studies of various aspects of American politics noting different Canadian practice and experience. In a brief period of time in 2003 I
found several ways to make my interest concrete.
As I was nearing the end of a long college deanship at Ohio State I became aware of a program open to students from U.S. colleges and universities
that sounded like a splendid way to get some Ohio State students to Canada in a position to see the working of part of the political system there first-hand.
This program, run throughout its ten-year history by historian James Baker, offers an opportunity to about 30-40 American students annually to work in
Ottawa for five weeks in May and June as interns assigned to individual Members of Parliament. See his program website: http://bakerincanada.com.
I learned about the details of the program, talked with Professor Baker at some length, and decided this was a marvelous opportunity to get Ohio State
students to see a bit of another political system first-hand. For the 2004 program the principal counselor in the Political Science Department at Ohio State
successfully recruited three good students who applied to Professor Baker and were accepted for the program. Although I was still wrapping up my job as a
college dean I made arrangements to have a seminar on Canadian politics with these students for the first seven weeks of spring quarter before they went
to Ottawa. None of them knew anything about Canada but they were all smart and through considerable reading, discussion, and use of the internet
[especially to watch Parliament in action, especially during Question Period], they went to Ottawa with some basic knowledge. They were each assigned to
an MP from a different national political party: the Liberals, the Conservatives, and the New Democratic Party. [Professor Baker assigns students to MPs
from all four parties currently represented in Parliament, including the Bloc Quebecois as well as the three just mentioned.] As it turned out, the Prime
Minister called an election for late June, 2004, so they each got to work in a national campaign rather than in Parliament itself. Collectively, they had duties
both in the constituencies [ridings] of their members and in Ottawa at the national party headquarters. They all had fine experiences. I was hooked on the
program
I returned to the faculty from the college office in July 2004 and also saw this as a teaching opportunity for me both during 2004-05 when I was still a
full-time faculty member and into the years of formal retirement. Consequently, I designed a regular course on Canadian politics that I first gave in the
winter of 2005 [winter quarter runs from right after New Year’s to mid-March] and have given every winter since then. It is open to any student who is
interested and is required of students accepted for the program in Ottawa. It is a general introduction to Canadian politics and necessarily also contains
some treatment of Canadian history, geography, culture, ideology, and socio-economic matters. I also decided that the students going to Ottawa should
continue to have a seminar more specifically focused on Parliament for the first seven weeks of spring quarter [late March to early May] before their journey
north.
Three different chairs of the Political Science Department have supported me in this teaching pattern. Our department has long been involved with a
number of study abroad programs as well as a number of internships in both central Ohio and Washington. The program in Ottawa contains elements of
both study [the students are required to do some written work in Ottawa that is evaluated by Professor Baker] and internship [they are responsible to an MP
and, in practice, to his/her principal staff member]. Naturally, I am grateful for this continuing Departmental support.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM
The program is, of course, not exclusively for students from Ohio State, although we have developed a sizeable presence in the program over the last
few years. I will describe that presence after I describe the program in general.
Professor Baker publicizes the program through the aforementioned website, personal contacts with colleagues at a number of U.S. colleges and
universities, and personal visits to a number of state Canadian Studies Roundtables [I first learned of the program from a presentation he made at the Ohio
Canadian Studies Roundtable], and recruiting visits to individual colleges and universities [he comes to Ohio State, for example, for a very helpful
informational meeting every October].
There is not a firm deadline for application, although he likes to have most of the applications by U.S. Thanksgiving and certainly by Christmas. He
accepts students as they complete satisfactory applications [which include assessments by faculty members who know the applicants].
He asks the students if they have preferences for working for a particular party in Parliament and also if they have ideological preferences and
particular areas of policy in which they are interested. He takes these preferences into account in the winter as he does the work of placing students in
specific offices. Over the years he has come to know the best offices for interns—where they will get to do real work, where the supervising staff member is
good to work for, where the MP himself/herself is open to interaction with the student, and so on. Through 2007 Ohio State has had 26 students in the
program. All but two were very pleased, and often thrilled, with their assignments and their experience on Parliament Hill. I poked into the cases of the two
students who were not particularly happy and, as I suspected, it was clear they were the problem, not their Canadian hosts or their assignments. The
numbers for May/June 2008 are not final yet, but I expect about a dozen Ohio State students to go to Ottawa then.
One of the strongest points of this internship is that Parliament, unlike Congress, has very modest staff resources. The typical member has one staff
member in Ottawa and limited staff in the riding. This means that in Ottawa student interns who come knowing something about Canadian politics and
Parliament specifically are immediately put to doing real work. Answering phones, opening mail, and making coffee all too often characterize the “duties” of
student interns in the U.S. Congress. That clearly is not the case in Parliament. Returning students proudly speak of the important committee meetings to
which they are sent to represent their MP. They also speak glowingly of portions of speeches they wrote that are delivered on the floor of the House of
Commons and appear in Hansard, the official record of the proceedings. One MP always co-authors a short policy paper with his intern for publication.
Although five weeks is a short time, the experience is intense and real.
Professor Baker accompanies the students to Canada and supervises them there. They live in a dormitory at the University of Ottawa, which is within
walking distance of Parliament. He also arranges special events for them both in Ottawa and in a few field trips. In Ottawa they meet with the Speaker of
the House of Commons. They meet with the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the Senate. They meet U.S. diplomats at the American embassy in
Ottawa. They take weekend trips to places such as Montreal and Quebec City.
OHIO STATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM
The overall program involves between 30 and 40 students from, usually, 12-15 or more U.S. universities and colleges in a wide range of states. In
several years since Ohio State students began participating, the Ohio State contingent has been the largest [9 in 2005, 12 in 2007, and probably about 12
in 2008]. Most of the Ohio State students are political science majors, although a few are double majoring or majoring in a closely related discipline [e.g.,
history, communication, international studies]. We publicize the program widely, with the primary focus on political science students and a secondary focus
on students in history, sociology, geography, international studies, and communication.
Two people at Ohio State are centrally involved in recruiting potential participants: the internship coordinator in the Department and me. A specific
staff member in the University’s Office of International Affairs processes the students and knows the program quite well. We use a variety of channels for
getting information to students. We use both blanket e-mails to majors and specialized e-mails to students we know and to counselors in other
departments. In the course I teach on the U.S. Congress each spring I describe the program and try to recruit some of the strongest students to be
interested in it. We also use alumni of the program who are still in school at Ohio State to help describe and promote the program. And, of course,
Professor Baker’s October visit is a major event in getting information to students who might be interested.
Virtually all of the other students in the program come from colleges and universities on the semester system. This means they are through with spring
semester before they go to Ottawa. The Ohio State students on a quarter system are, of course, in a different situation, since spring quarter runs from late
March into early June. Ohio State quickly worked out a favorable accommodation for students who want to participate in the program. In the winter the
students enrolled in my course on Canadian politics get five hours of graded credit. That is very straightforward. In the spring they receive five hours of
satisfactory/unsatisfactory credit for the seminar with me. The seminar requires considerable reading, a lot of discussion based on reading, and a written
detailed profile of the MP to which each student has been assigned [the seminar runs from late March to early May; Professor Baker has assignments
completed by early to mid-March at the latest]. They get 10 hours of graded credit in Ottawa from Professor Baker based on a detailed portfolio they
construct for him and his consultation with their office. This gives them 15 hours credit for spring semester [a full load]. The credit for my seminar is
political science credit. The 10 hours from Ottawa can be used for their major if the relevant department agrees [Political Science counts these ten hours
toward a major]. Professor Baker has noted that the OSU quarter system works very well in helping the students focus on the internship, with considerable
prior academic preparation.
Ohio State has also made the program quite affordable. Regular tuition at Ohio State rates covers the cost of the program, including their dorm room
in Ottawa. The only additional expense is a $100 application fee and the cost of getting to and from Ottawa. Presumably, the students would eat no matter
where they were [although the collapse of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar is not doing the students any favors at the moment].
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Ohio State students generally get hooked on Canadian politics, which are, indeed, very interesting. They demonstrate this fascination in a variety of
ways. A number of the previous interns take the Congress course I teach after they return. In the discussions in that course they will often make
comparative points about Congress, citing the Canadian Parliament. [A number of students who go to Ottawa take the Congress course first and in the
later classes on Canada make comparative points drawing on their knowledge of Congress.] This instinct to compare institutions furthers the students’
understanding of both of them, giving tangible support to the classic case for studying any political phenomenon comparatively.
Some of the students follow Canadian politics closely after returning. For example, the most recent federal election in Canada was held in January
2006. I was at my computer at home watching returns on the internet from a variety of Canadian sources. About midnight two of the students who had
been to Ottawa the previous May/June began e-mailing me with their observations on the unfolding results and I e-mailed them back with my own
observations. We continued this three-way round robin exchange until about 2:30 in the morning, when the returns were basically complete. They, of
course, were particularly interested in how their “own” MPs had done, but they also were quite insightful in commenting on the overall trend and meaning of
the election. [And it was a significant election, replacing a minority Liberal government with a minority Conservative government.]
Another student, who was in the program in the spring of 2006, continues to have e-mail exchanges with me after significant events in the life of the
House of Commons and the government. She comments very intelligently on matters such as new governmental budgets, Speeches from the Throne
outlining the government’s priorities, and various votes of confidence, any one of which could oust the government and cause an election.
One student was so enamored of life on Parliament Hill that he successfully sought full-time paid employment as a staff member for an MP. He was
successful and after graduating in summer quarter following his internship in Ottawa he returned there to take up his new job. He has since moved to work
for another MP.
Naturally, not all of the students get as immersed and excited as the examples just given. But, whether they always know it or not, they have had an
intellectual experience that broadens their horizons in studying the political system of the United States or any other country. They can always use their
Canadian experience to make comparative points. And, of course, interacting with students from 12 to 15 other colleges and universities during the
internship itself has enormous value as the students, with different perspectives and experience, learn a great deal from each other.
There are also practical values to this internship. The Ohio State students, of course, get to know the students from other universities and colleges
who are participating in the program and I am sure they form some good friendships. They also make some Canadian friends. They are invited to use their
MP as a reference for graduate school, law school, other internships, or jobs. And they get to see a bit of our northern neighbor, a country similar enough
to the United States so as not to leave them lost, but different enough on a number of dimensions to be intriguing and stimulating.
DO’S AND DON’T’S
This program brings to mind some more general do’s and don’ts for internship programs overseas [or even over the Great Lakes, as in this case].
Do:
--publicize the program widely, repeatedly, and to a number of audiences on campus.
--make sure the publicity contains not just the academic details of the program but also more practical aspects such as cost.
--prepare students carefully for the specific internship to which they are going.
--screen students carefully. A few, for a variety of reasons, would really not be good interns.
--be sure the assignments to supervisors/agencies in the host country are made with great care.
--give appropriate academic credit.
Don’t:
--ignore any of the above items on the “do” list.
--waive any part of the preparation requirements on the home campus.
--send students to a program in another country where they are not accompanied by a U.S. academic who is with them for routine matters,
for emergencies of various kinds, and for helping put their experiences in context at the time they are having the experiences.
--give more academic credit than the program is genuinely worth.
CONCLUSION
I have been involved in a number of ways with a variety of internships in the United States [in Congress, in other Washington agencies and lobbies,
and in their analogs at the state and local level in Ohio/Columbus]. Those internships are extremely valuable. But I think the extra comparative dimension
of an internship in another country brings additional opportunities for stretching the mind and making comparative observations that simply cannot be
offered by internships in the United States. I would also argue that the comparative value of the internship is enhanced if the site of the intership is in a
country that is, by definition, different from the United States but not so different as to be somewhat incomprehensible. Canada fits this description very well
and is an excellent internship site that should not be overlooked.