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Canadian Parliament Internship

O-H-I-O in the East Block Courtyard of Parliament!

Prior to embarking on a five-week stay to Ottawa, ON, I spent a semester learning about the inner workings of Canadian Parliament and what created the cultural phenomenon we now know as modern Canada. Unlike the United States, the federation of Canada utilizes a parliamentary system. The course taught students and interns relevant details and events that contributed to the founding of the federation. What the course didn’t prepare me for, however, was the fact that Canadians use *bagged milk*.

I recently decided to bump my French minor up to a major. This decision proved to be incredibly helpful during my stay in Canada; the extra coursework throughout my semesters in undergrad– and therefore the intensity and exposure to the language– eased my transition into a Francophone office. The bilingual nation employs both English and French, with interns given the option to choose either lingual office, so working professionally in a Francophone office seemed like a no-brainer. Exchanging pleasantries with strangers while grabbing a morning coffee is one thing, however, sustaining a conversation about specific Private Member’s bills about creating a federal Youth Commissioner was another.

Through Dr. Baker’s trusty expertise, I was paired with MP (Member of Parliament) Anne Minh-Thu Quach, a Vietnamese-Canadian Francophone whose riding in Quebec lies just short of the northeastern US border. Anne’s riding is an eclectic mix of Francophone culture, Inuit and Metis peoples’ land, and beautiful scenery to boot. As the Youth Critic for the NDP (New Democrat Party), Anne concerned her two mandates primarily with youth affairs– focusing on Indigenous youth rights and representation– among other issues. An environmentalist, Anne often expressed much concern about issues regarding her riding’s track record on progressive environmental policy.

Along with Jean Marc, Anne’s legislative assistant in the Ottawa office, I helped Anne craft questions for Question Period in the House (an incendiary moment where MPs can engage in “healthy” debate), research issues within her riding, and facilitate meetings with advocacy groups visiting from across the nation. Working in Anne’s office was a learning curve– the French-Canadian dialect is no joke– yet with the office’s help, resources, and support, I felt comfortable operating in French-mode 24/7. Studying French for 8+ years doesn’t prepare you for immense dives like this into a foreign language, where business is constantly in French. No classroom can compare to such an immersive situation, especially when conducting official governmental business and discussing current affairs. Visiting Quebec City and Montreal was the cherry on top to a French language experience; I took pride in helping the fellow interns order items at a Tim Hortons in the middle of Quebec.

Anne, myself, and Jean Marc– Team Quach!

The work itself was enlightening. As an American, it’s difficult escaping the bottleneck of US politics. We’re spoon-fed articles about elections, domestic politics, and more, yet the happenings of international states rarely make headlines (unless the US is somehow involved). Therefore, before the semester prep of Canadian politics, I knew little to nothing about the scandals and issues that paralyzed Canadian politics. Learning about the abhorrent human rights violations and systemic discrimination from the government opened my eyes to the sheer amount of atrocities and abuses worldwide, for better or for worse. I certainly garnered a greater passion for social justice after having interned with Anne, further confirming my interest in social politics.

Without the generous contribution from my STEP fund, I can undoubtedly say that I would not have had the experience I had in Canada. This internship was the first time I visited outside of the US, hopefully serving as a precursor to future adventures and lessons. The grace of this fund allowed me to experience indescribable moments without the daunting stress of loans or payments, and as a student attempting to balance work and school, I couldn’t be more grateful.