The Hon. David Collenette, minister in the Cabinets of Pierre Trudeau, John Turner, and Jean Chrétien, spoke to students in POLM 5001 (Institutions and Governance). He shared his experiences in politics, including the events of September 11, 2001, when he was minister of transport and responsible for dealing with hundreds of planes that were crossing the Atlantic toward the United States, which had just closed its airspace. He also reflected on current Canadian politics, including the state of the Liberal party, the partisan tone of the House of Commons, and the characteristics necessary for effective leadership.