Jaimie's Intern Lana Belber summarizes her first month on the hill

Arriving in Ottawa fresh out of exams, I had little time to process what a profoundly exciting time it is to be working on Parliament Hill. From my first day in the office of Andrew Cash, Member of Parliament for Davenport, I got the sense that this would not be an ordinary summer in Canadian politics – if any such thing exists.

The period before any election is one of intensification as the eyes of Canadians train on Parliament. This year, however, something more is at play; with polls reporting statistical ties and unprecedented provincial election results, it has become very clear that there are three genuine contenders to form government for our 42nd Parliament. There is no room for arrogance in a race is this close, and I’ve seen firsthand that no move in the House can be made without political calculation.

I’m learning that every issue is framed above anything else as an election issue. At the closing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, an occasion for truth-telling, survival, and catharsis, gazes shifted from survivors to party leaders as human experiences were transformed into platform issues. In the House of Commons, strategy reigns supreme. I attended committee meetings that were an exercise in striking the elusive balance between policy and politics. Unfortunately, the latter often wins out.

Thankfully, there has been much cause for optimism. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many Members of Parliament who work incredibly hard with the common goal of improving Canada, whatever their vision for our country may be. With grueling travel schedules, they must navigate the Ottawa-Constituency divide, juggling responsibilities on the Hill and in their communities. This is particularly true in Andrew’s case; in addition to having a family with young children, he is very present in his community (I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a calendar fuller than his). At the same time, he has been extraordinarily busy in Ottawa and I’ve had the good fortune of being part of the action.

Over the course of the last month, Andrew and his energetic office have jumped tirelessly between projects. When I arrived, his private member’s bill on precarious work was debated at second reading. After having helped prepare House notes, I was able to watch the debate from the gallery – a step up from CPAC on my laptop. As the Budget Implementation Act was rolled out, I took part in analyzing the protections that it included for unpaid interns, witnessed the party angle take shape as the media began to pick up the issue, sat in on consultations with stakeholders and the drafting of amendments, and attended committee meetings. Finally, I saw a barrage of media requests come in after Andrew’s successful Opposition Day motion to ban pay-to-pay fees. The issues of precarious work and pay-to-pay fees in particular were taken on by Andrew after hearing from his constituents. In this sense, his parliamentary work in these areas bridges the gap between Ottawa and his riding.

Being invited into the fast-paced world of Canadian politics at peak action time is an incredible privilege. From run-ins with our Prime Minister in the hallway on my way to Question Period to attending a taping of Power & Politics, I’ve truly been afforded an inside look into some of the major arteries of our democracy. After having met Tom Clark, Chris Hall, Rosemary Barton, Evan Solomon, and their fabulous teams, I’ve been able to appreciate that many of the friends and supporters of the Jaimie Anderson Parliamentary Internship are people who I rely on daily to make Ottawa accessible to me. I cannot overstate how exciting it is to be given a front-row seat. With three months left, I look forward to visiting Davenport to see the other side of Andrew’s duties as an MP, and to see what else the Andersons have in store for us. If the first month was any indication, we are in for a treat.

Jaimie's Intern David Cosolo summarizes his first month on the hill

With only four months left until the (supposed) election, every speech, question, recommendation, and critique is driven by politics. In this context, the consideration of policy – ideally, fair and responsible policy – has fallen by the wayside. Even critiques of the government, which form part of the central role of the opposition parties, are now rarely based on policy differences. Until October, politics will indeed reign supreme. 

Last week, however, I managed to sneak a glimpse of when policy won out over politics – or at least partisanship. At a reception celebrating the proposed Thaidene Nene national park in the Northwest Territories, MPs from all three parties came together in support of the park. Clara Hughes, well-known Olympian and mental health advocate, brought the park to life by sharing her experience visiting the area and all of its vast beauty. This event, among others, helped to reinforce in my mind that all 308 MPs, regardless of party stripe, have many of the same end goals in mind. They work to advance the lives of Canadians across the country, protect our borders, share the wealth of our land, and improve the lives of the most vulnerable. 

Being immersed in Parliament Hill on the eve of an election has been unparalleled thus far. The election is on everyone’s mind and has been the talk of the town, from the hallways of Centre Block to the patios of Sparks Street. The public and media do seem to forget that within these hallways, however, there is a lot of governing still going on!

Working with Rodger Cuzner, I have been fortunate to not only laugh at, and be on the receiving end of countless jokes, but also to sit in on the Standing Committee for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. For nearly four hours every week, members from all parties gather to discuss employment-related issues and question witnesses with the hope of recommending future legislation. Being immersed in the labour and employment files has taught me a lot about EI, skills training, labour mobility, and more. After these four months, I’ll hopefully be well versed enough to navigate the job market, and all of its perils, upon graduation.  

The next couple of weeks, like the previous five, will be a whirlwind of meetings, receptions, dinners, and impromptu conversations until the House rises on June 23rd.  Just because the MPs are back in their ridings, does not mean the work stops here in Ottawa. The second half of the summer will also mark the “riding visits” where each of the Jaimie’s Interns will have the opportunity to spend some time in the home ridings of each of our MPs. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited for the seafood and ocean air in Cape Breton. I’ll be sure to add some pictures to my next post. Until then, enjoy the first round of election ads and the last few Question Periods of this 41st Parliament. 

2015 Jaimie's Intern: David Cosolo

David Cosolo is a fourth year student at the University of Toronto, Trinity College, studying International Relations, American Studies, and Political Science.

At U of T, David served as Co-President of the International Relations Society and was involved with research initiatives that took him to Argentina and Belgium, where he had the opportunity to attend the 2014 G7 Summit in Brussels. While in Argentina, David completed field research in Buenos Aires and Chubut Province, and explored conservation and resource extraction case studies in Patagonia. 

David currently works with the U of T G8 Research Group, as the Director of Compliance Studies.Moreover, he is a Research Assistant in the Environmental Governance Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs, where he is currently examining the judicialization of environmental politics in Latin America. David has been on the Dean's List each year, and was awarded several scholarships, including the Chancellor's Scholarship last year.

David has both private and public sector experience. He worked for over three years with TD Canada Trust, and was a Public Affairs Intern with the US Department of State at the U.S. Consulate in Calgary.

To further his studies on energy policy and summit diplomacy, David will start an MSc in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science this September.

2015 Jaimie's Intern: Aaron Joshua Pinto

Aaron Joshua Pinto was born in Bahrain and came to Canada with his family after the Gulf War. He recently completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts at Western University, focusing on International Relations and French.

Aaron’s avid interest in global affairs led to his selection as a Junior Team Canada ambassador on a trade and development mission to Central and South America, as well as a domestic mission to the Canadian Arctic.

Upon returning from a year’s exchange in Europe and a development internship in Central Russia, Aaron co-founded the Canadian Youth Think Tank, the first knowledge hub of its kind in Canada that publishes youth written articles and op-eds on national and global public policy.

Aaron is a World Vision Canada Youth Ambassador, a member of the Globe and Mail Student Advisory Board and a Junior Research Fellow at the NATO Council of Canada.

Aaron was elected as a City Youth Councillor and Co-Chair of the City Youth Council in his hometown of Mississauga and he was also selected to be Canada’s Youth Ambassador to the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe.

In October 2014, Aaron travelled to Ukraine as one of 90 Canadians to be an International Election Observer monitoring the Verkhovna Rada parliamentary elections. In the past, he has had the pleasure of meeting with Prince Charles and Desmond Tutu; climbed South Africa’s iconic Lion’s Head (during nighttime); and celebrated Christmas mass with the former Pope.

Aaron has most recently been recognized as one of 60 young people across the Commonwealth to receive the Queen’s Young Leaders Award from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth this summer.

For relaxation, Aaron enjoys smooth jazz and a good read by the local harbour. In the long term, Aaron intends to pursue a career in international law and justice, and eventually in the Foreign Service.

2015 Jaimie's Intern: Lana Belber

Lana Belber is a born-and-raised Montrealer currently finishing her first year of studies at McGill University’s Faculty of Law. She previously studied Liberal Arts at Dawson College and completed her Bachelor’s degree at McGill in Anthropology and Political Science, graduating on the Dean’s Honour List. 

She is passionate about equitable political representation and is one of the coordinators of McGill’s Women in House program, mandated to increase the representation of women in Canadian politics. 

She has also worked as a public servant in the Department of Citizenship at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, where she had the opportunity to play an active role in the citizenship process for many new Canadians. 

Lana has been a leader of B. Refuge McGill, a student club dedicated to promoting cultural exchange between McGill students and Montreal’s refugee community as well as advocacy work for refugees in Canada and abroad.

Lana aims to use her legal education to foster dialogue between grassroots and formal bodies of social change, and to advocate for greater responsiveness to the diverse needs of our country’s population in our legislature and courts. She speaks English, French, Spanish, and a touch of Italian. 

Aside from her interests in politics and social justice, she is a big fan of the blues, food, and her dog.