Institutional Memory: A Meeting With Former MPP Sean Conway

We had heard a lot about Sean Conway before we actually met with him. A number of MPPs, staff and other politicos emphatically told us how important it was that we meet with him: “his institutional memory is like no other,” we were told. To us, he became a bit of a legend, so we were more than eager when we finally got to meet with him.

What I loved about meeting with Sean was how down to earth he was. From the minute he walked in, he was so easy to speak to and had no qualms in answering any and all of our questions. He began our meeting at a logical point: how did he get into politics? As many already know, Sean was elected in 1975 at the young age of 24. This really stuck with me because I am exactly the same age that he was when he was first elected to the House. I still feel so new around Queen’s Park just being an intern, let alone a full blown MPP; but somehow he managed to do such a good job that he didn’t leave the Park until 2003.

Sean also gave us such great insight and told us so many classic personal stories. Many of us found his thoughts and views on minority governments to be quite interesting given the current state of the legislature, and he spoke to us briefly about partisanship and intra-party relations. What was really poignant was his advice to us at the end of our meeting: “Find something that turns your crank”, an ode to following your heart.

For a Queen’s Man, Sean wasn’t too shabby (we Mustangs can’t give a Gael too much credit after all). But in all seriousness, it is truly thanks to members like Sean that we can continue to learn how to make the legislature a better place for all of us. He was such a passionate speaker and advocate for his beliefs, and we would all be a little better if we followed his lead.

An Honour To Meet The Distinguished Peter Hogg

It was an absolute honour to meet the leading authority on Canadian constitutional law, and author of Constitutional Law of Canada –  the most cited book by the Supreme Court of Canada in their decisions, as well as a book I was made to read and re-read in my undergraduate constitutional law classes. Therefore, you can imagine the excitement and awe with which I approached this meeting.

Of course, the one and only Peter Hogg did not disappoint.

Measured and careful with his words, and wise and fair with his analysis, Mr. Hogg began his discussion with us by describing his completely accidental entrance into the field of constitutional law. He described the way in which he slowly turned his compilation of notes for his students on the very first constitutional law cases into a textbook on the subject – groundbreaking and invaluable material when the field was so new.

Mr. Hogg also spoke on a number of cases that he worked on throughout his career, particularly the same sex marriage reference. He provided insight into the way in which he foresees Canada evolving as a society from a legal standpoint and the unelected nature of judges acting as a precaution against tyranny of the majority.

We could have gone all day being enlightened by Mr. Hogg’s insight on a number of legal questions.

Thank you for taking time to meet us, Peter Hogg!

Interns with constitutional scholar Peter Hogg.

Layin’ Down The Law: Meeting With Sheena Weir And The Law Society Of Upper Canada

Director of Public Affairs at the Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC), Sheena Weir, was an absolute pleasure to meet!

For those of us interns planning to enter law school or those of us who simply have an interest in the field of law, we were given some in-depth insight into the many regulatory and operational functions of the LSUC.

In addition to outlining the evolution of the organization, Sheena taught us how the Law Society regulates Ontario lawyers and paralegal licensees in the public interest, and provides the public services in finding the right lawyer or paralegal.

Sheena Weir also mapped out her career path leading up to her current position. It is interesting to note that Ms. Weir started under the Rae government with the Ministry of Natural Resources before eventually becoming involved in Government Relations with the LSUC. Not only does Ms. Weir have substantive political experience within the legislature to bring to the table, but she also skillfully engages with all parties.

All in all, Ms. Weir offered us a wealth of knowledge and insight as well as her friendly, engaging presence. It was wonderful to meet you, Sheena Weir!

Interns with Sheena Weir, from the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Everything Eves – A Thoughtful Chat With The Former Premier

The first thing Ernie Eves says to us as he walks into the room is “What a bunch of crazy people!”

The former Premier and cabinet minister is probably only half-joking when he wonders why young people like us would want to get involved in Ontario politics.

He would definitely know what he is talking about.

From being an MPP for over twenty years, serving as Finance Minster and, finally, Premier of the province, Mr. Eves has seen enough to give us a good appraisal of the field.

We were lucky to have an hour with him at his Toronto law office (the same firm as David Peterson, he pointed out) to hear more about his life in politics and time at the helm.

Mr. Eves told us that job of Premier is substantially different than any other in Ontario – even minister of finance. While ministers must micromanage and know the intricate details of their portfolios, a Premier’s decisions happen at “thirty thousand feet” and require a significant adjustment in thinking. It was obviously a job he enjoyed, as he confessed to missing the “seven crises a day” that whoever holds the office faces.

Our conversation was not confined to reflections on the past, as Mr. Eves had plenty of thoughts to share about contemporary Ontario politics. We’re guessing that, when you’re looking for perceptive political analysis, listening to a former Premier is a solid bet. A piece of advice he had for politicians of all stripes was to let their true personalities and opinions guide their actions, and not be too swayed by coterie of advisors.

Our meeting with Premier Eves was notable for its reflective tone. When we speak with politicians currently holding office, it is sometimes difficult to separate honest opinions from political spin. Mr. Eves, however, was thoughtful, forthcoming and candid. For that, and for sharing his time, we thank him.

Interns with former Premier Ernie Eves.

Accords, Blue Boxes, And Constitutional Matters: Meeting Premier David Peterson

We recently got a taste of Ontario’s dynamic political landscape of the 1980s, meeting with former Liberal Premier David Peterson. Elected in 1985, Peterson’s government ended the 42-year reign of the Progressive Conservative Party in Ontario, which some say marked the surprise “comeback” of the Liberal party, and the following trends that ensued across the country. As he greeted the interns on the way in to his law office in downtown Toronto, his assistant asked if he could take a quick call from current Premier Kathleen Wynne – which evidently highlighted his continued support of the party he once lead. Upon returning, he jokingly advised that he had informed the current Premier that the interns snuck out of Queen’s Park and are “playing hooky”. His sense of humour would endure throughout the meeting, where we had quite the engaging discussion, as well as an opportunity to ask him various questions.

He shared a number of lively stories, including how he entered politics, how his party surprisingly won power in the mid eighties, his experience as Premier, and life post-politics. We discussed the significant role he played with his Premier counterparts during Canada’s constitutional talks. In addition, he explained the nature of the accord he signed with NDP leader Bob Rae, at the time, distinguishing its difference from a formal coalition, which would have required the sharing of executive powers in Cabinet. And he enthusiastically shared the numerous opportunities his government embraced, including legislation to protect cultural minorities, give rights to individuals of various sexual orientations, and support women.

There were a few particular moments that stood out. For example, did you know the Peterson government introduced the blue boxes we see all across Ontario as part of our recycling efforts? Also, following politics, Peterson has been contracted by the Canadian government to serve as chief negotiator on the devolution talks with the Northwest Territories. This was particularly interesting, given the interns recently visited Yellowknife in February.

Before concluding the meeting, former Premier Peterson gave the interns some advice. He advised:

1. Don’t let your self-esteem depend on people;
2. One skill you need to be a politician is: the ability to get elected;
3. Read The Economist. It is so important to have a global perspective;
4. Victors must be gracious;
5. Everyone practices politics – it’s how we get along with people;

And with that, the interns said farewell, and hopped on the TTC back to Queen’s Park. Unfortunately, you just can’t play hooky all day…

Interns with former Premier David Peterson.

Accounting For Sponsors, The Institute Of Chartered Accountants

The time had come for the annual intern visit to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO). While some of you out there may be thinking ‘yikes, accounting is boring,’ let me assure you: it is anything but! This isn’t just about accounting, this is about ruling the world, one CA at a time. Don’t believe me? Just ask Tina, the winner of the 2010 “Rule the Tube” competition, who won $1,500 and unlimited judos for her creative video promoting Chartered Accountancy as a profession. (check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XVXooqEc1w)

Or ask this enthusiastic USB key who is celebrating “The clever little sticky book: that can help you rule the world.”

Next stop: world domination.

 

 

 

But enough about the glamour. CAs are real people too. And we were lucky enough to meet several of them.

We arrived at the ICAO building and were greeted by Chris May, the Director of Government Affairs, who we’ve bumped into at various Queen’s Park events. He gave us a tour of the building and pointed out the many architectural changes it has gone through. Our tour ended in the Council Chambers, which was a very cool and potentially intimidating room. This is where the Council meets and where disciplinary hearings are held.

Chris gave us an introduction into some of the issues facing the accountancy profession today. First and foremost, there is a nation-wide initiative to merge the designations of Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered General Accountant (CGA), and Chartered Management Accountant (CMA) into one: the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). The various provincial bodies representing these professions are all invited to the table and it sounds like some progress has been made. For example, Quebec already merged their accountancy bodies last year.

We briefly met Rod N. Barr, the President and CEO of ICAO. Then we learned more about CAs specifically through presentations from Mona Ghiami, the Director of Career Information, and Brian Leader, the VP of Learning, about the paths that CA wannabes can take to complete their academic training, and their work requirements to get certified. CAs are now able to choose a path of working in public accountancy or getting experience in industry to complete their work requirements. Upon hearing the starting salary of a first year associate CA (a cool $71K), a few interns may have second guessed their chosen career path.

Karelyn Murray, the Associate Director of Regulatory Compliance, gave us an overview of licensing and how the ICAO ensures compliance with the Chartered Accountants Act, 2010. It was news to many of us, including myself, that not all accountants are licensed. You only have to be licensed if you are signing off on financial statements that people will rely on.

Finally, Paul Farley, the Senior Council of the Professional Conduct Committee, gave us a fascinating look into disciplinary issues in the ICAO. I don’t know why, but everyone loves a scandal, and the group was simultaneously intrigued and shocked by some of the cases he has seen. The main goal of a professional disciplinary body is to maintain the integrity of the profession and ensure that CAs still enjoy the public’s trust. Therefore it is very important to address disciplinary issues firmly. They have strong powers to investigate and to punish such offences through fines, suspension or revocation of the designation, restrictions on practicing, and publishing prosecutions. In many ways, a hearing is similar to a criminal proceeding, but there is one very notable difference: A defendant does not have the right to remain silent. Otherwise they may be charged with failure to cooperate, which can be even worse than the charge they already faced. A word to the wise: if you’re thinking of using a CA, Google them.

After the formal presentations we went down to the lunchroom for a great meal and were able to get to know some of the presenters better. It was very cool to see people from all sorts of different backgrounds who were now working at the ICAO.

Interns with the Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

Thanks to the ICAO for the great morning, the sweet swag, and of course, for their support of OLIP.

“That Could Be Me One Day…”: Checking In With OLIP Alum

We’ve had a chance to connect with former OLIP’ers at receptions and other events and it’s always great to see where OLIP alumni end up. We’ve also had some more in depth meetings with a few of our alumni and they are always a great source of information, advice, and entertainment!

On December 14, 2012 we met with Meghan Warby from the 2005-06 cohort. Meghan is currently the Lead of the Social Media Strategy for the Government of Ontario. Talk about a cool job! She has a communications background and has done some consulting as well, so it was very cool to get advice from her.

Interns with alum Meghan Warby.

On December 17, we talked to an intern from 1993-94, Philip Bousquet. Philip is the Manager of Industrial and Government Relations for the Ontario Mining Association. It was neat to learn more about such a major Ontario industry and to hear about working for an association where you have to balance the needs and views of your membership.

Interns with alum Philip Bousquet.

In the New Year we talked to Jason Lagerquist who was an intern in 2006-07. Jason is currently the Policy and Stakeholder Advisor for the Minister of Agriculture, who also just happens to be the Premier. It was interesting to learn about the transition to a new leader from someone within the party.

Interns with alum Jason Lagerquist.

The next week we met with 2 very cool alumni back-to-back. First up was Brandy Giannetta from 1999-2000, the Ontario Regional Director of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). She talked to us about representing an industry that has been embroiled in controversy in Ontario, yet is established and accepted in other parts of the country. It was very interesting to learn more about an issue that is so divisive, especially in rural Ontario.

Interns with alum Brandy Giannetta.

Finally, we talked to Dan O’Brien from the 2005-06 cohort who is the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Ontario NDP Caucus. The interns who have worked for NDP members know Dan well from work in their offices. Other than working for the Ontario NDP, Dan had a few stints outside Queen’s Park doing policy work for ACTRA and Communications for the Motion Picture Association of Canada. It was fun to hear about the third party’s perspective.

Interns with alum Dan O’Brien.

All of our alumni are doing interesting work in a wide variety of organizations. It’s great to hear from them, get some advice, and to think about where we’ll end up. Thanks again to all our alumni!