It has been a month since I started my placement in the office of Julie Dzerowicz, MP for Davenport. Working in this MP’s office has been a rewarding challenge and a learning curve. I very much appreciate this opportunity of learning about politics through the unique hands-on experience provided by the UCC. During the last few years, I was able to learn much of political science and public policy theory at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy where I pursued my master’s degree. The current UCC Parliamentary internship allows me to not only apply the knowledge already acquired but also significantly expand it.

I started my work at the time of pre-Budget consultations, so I had a chance to attend some if the meetings held by the MP with representatives of various industries and unions. In addition, I also assisted with organizing and summarizing Davenport constituents’ Budget 2023 recommendations. I found to be a unique opportunity to see what issues are the most top-of-mind for Canadians of various backgrounds.

I am also learning about the priorities of her constituents through my assistance with constituent correspondence. It is inspiring to see how much the MP’s team is devoted to making sure that she is familiar to with all the questions and recommendations that constituents address to her. And that all of them get detailed responses.

My MP is also the Chair of Canada-Mexico, Canada-Portugal, and Canada-Mexico Parliamentary Friendship groups, and I have been learning about the work these groups are doing through assisting with technical preparations for virtual and in-person meetings and events that are part of these groups’ work. A lot of the MP’s work has been focused on Canada’s humanitarian relief efforts for Turkey and Syria following a deadly earthquake which hit the two countries in early February.

I have had a chance to assist with the work related to NATO Parliamentary Association, specifically in preparation to meetings in Canada and around the world as a Chair of the Association.

Finally, I have also been assisting the MP with organizing National Immigration and Refugee Caucus meetings. Being an immigrant myself I am very encouraged to see how much Canadian MPs and Ministers prioritize immigration policies and learn that they gather regularly to discuss how these policies may be improved to benefit newcomers and Canada.

I look forward to learning more through this unique experience! I am immensely grateful to UCC for their commitment to providing such opportunity to Ukrainian Canadians, and to all the generous donors who make UCC Parliamentary internship possible.