Practicum - Political Management

What is Involved in the Practicum?

The practicum is an essential component of the Political Management Program. It allows students an opportunity to work either in a political office or in an office which interacts significantly with political offices so that they may:

learn by observation and participation the challenges and complexities of political management first hand;
merge the lessons and theoretical insights acquired from MPM classes with experience gained through on the job training in a practical context;
reflect critically on the experience, especially through the final analytical paper, in order to better understand the Canadian political system;
gain first hand understanding of the practical demands of working in political management, and gain perspective with respect to his or her employment aspirations and motivation for future participation in this field; and
gain employment experience and personal contacts.

The practicum is an official course requirement within the MPM program (POLM 5099). Students must work for a minimum 375 hours in an office setting related to political management. Practicum placements are normally completed on a full-time basis from the end of the winter academic semester until the end of June. This is designed largely to coincide with what is customarily a busy time in political offices leading up to the parliamentary summer recess.

Practicum forms for current students:

Current students can download copies of the program forms for the practicum. For each form, we have both a simple version and a version that allows e-signatures using Adobe or compatible software.

Template Learning Agreement
Simple version	E-signature version
Template Timesheet
Simple version	E-signature version
Template Supervisor Evaluation
Simple version	E-signature version

Where Do Students Complete Their Practicums?

Our students have completed their practicums at a wide variety of offices and organizations including:

Political Offices
Alan Hubley, Ottawa City Councillor
Anne Quach, MP
Charlie Watt, Senator
Doug Black, Senator
Francis Scarpaleggia, MP
Geoff Regan, MP, Constituency Office
James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage
John Fraser, MPP, Ontario
Judy Sgro, MP
Justin Trudeau, Liberal Leader
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Kellie Leitch, MP
Larry Miller, MP
Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport
Marianne Wilkinson, Ottawa City Councillor
Nathan Cullen, MP
Niki Ashton, MP
Ontario PC Caucus Services
Peter Julian, MP
Peter Julian, NDP House Leader
Rob Portman, United States Senator
Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island
Rona Ambrose, Leader of the Opposition
Scott Simms, MP
Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada
Tobi Nussabaum, Ottawa City Councillor
Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board

Campaigns
BC Liberals Provincial Election Campaign
George Brown NDP Campaign, Ottawa South
Liberal Provincial Campaign, Ottawa South
Michael Chong Leadership Campaign
NDP Provincial Campaign
PC Provincial Campaign, Ottawa Vanier

Communications, Government Relations
and Polling Firms
Abacus Data
Broadview Strategy Group
Capital Hill Group
Earnscliffe Strategy Group
Gandalf Group
Impact Public Affairs
National Public Affairs
spark*advocacy
Summa Stategies

Organizations and Corporations
Association of Financial Officers
Business Council of Canada
Business+Higher Education Roundtable
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
Canadian Gas Association
Canadian National (CN) Rail, Office of Gov. Affairs
Canadian Urban Transit Association
Council of Canadians
Employment and Social Development Canada
Engineers Canada
Environment Canada
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Heart & Stroke Foundation
Holland Bloorview Hospital, Government Relations
Kairos
The International Republican Institute
Tourism Industries Association
UN Association Canada
Universities Canada
World Food Programme
World Vision Canada

Media
The Hill Times

Frequently Asked Questions

What sort of offices are suitable for a practicum placement?

Students serve their placements in a wide variety of office settings related to political management. Most frequently, they work in Ottawa for Members of Parliament, government ministers, political parties, government relations firms, industry associations and non-governmental organizations. Some have worked for government departments, with media organizations, public opinion research firms or foreign embassies. And if the timing is right, students sometimes work on federal, provincial or municipal election campaigns, or for party leadership candidates. The essential requirement for the practicum is that students’ work relate to political management. In all cases the practicum coordinator must also be convinced that the work is relevant and appropriately substantive.

Do placements have to be in Ottawa?

There is no requirement that the internship be in the nation’s capital. Subject to a student’s willingness to relocate, opportunities may be considered in other provinces or even in other countries, so long as the work is relevant and substantive, and appropriate accountability and reporting structures are in place. Note, however, that the POLM program has no funds available to subsidize travel and accommodation.

How are placements arranged?

Responsibility for completing an eligible practicum placement rests with the student. The practicum coordinator is available to assist students in securing an eligible placement. Some students may wish to make their own arrangements based on their personal connections. In other cases, the practicum coordinator may, after discussion with the student, suggest possible placements and help to start conversations.

May I serve my practicum at my regular place of employment?

Yes, if the practicum coordinator is satisfied that the work will further the student’s knowledge of and experience with political management.

May I accept remuneration for my practicum work?

Yes, of course you can! In practice, the vast majority of placements are paid by host employers. The program does not, however, have a mandatory pay scale or participate in conversations between students and employers about compensation. Where a student has opted to take a placement with a host organization – such as a non-profit or campaign – that is unable to offer compensation, the University ensures that the student has workplace insurance.

Testimonials from Practicum Supervisors

“Summa Strategies has hired so many MPM graduates over the years that we refer to it as our farm team. The practical skills taught in the program are a perfect fit for the work we do in government relations, communications and public affairs.”

– Jim Armour
Managing Partner, Summa Strategies

“The Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management does an exceptional job of preparing students for the workplace. Our practicum student arrived on the job with a significant amount of practical experience from her in-class assignments. It allowed for a nearly seamless transition into a strategic policy team, because of her familiarity with briefing notes, advice, and other hallmarks of public service work.”

-Daphna Mills
Manager, Social Policy Directorate, Employment and Social Development Canada

“It can take years to learn how Canada’s political system works, and MPM distills it into a one year crash course with some of the country’s most prominent experts. It opens a network of colleagues and opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible. The classes will get you the practical knowledge you need and immerse you in the real world of political work, while helping you pursue your desired field with a tailored practicum. There really isn’t another program like this out there”

– Melissa Rumble
Senior Advisor, Communications and Public Diplomacy
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Canada

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