Canadian Politics

A21(f) - Nonroutine proceedings: Research by the 55th Parliamentary Internship Programme Cohort

Date: Jun 5 | Time: 03:30pm to 05:00pm | Location: SJA-252E

Chair/Président/Présidente : Lisa Young (University of Calgary)

Co-Chair/Président/Présidente : Feodor Snagovsky (University of Alberta)

Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Janique Dubois (University of Ottawa)

Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Erin Crandall (Acadia University)

Each year the participants in the Parliamentary Internship Programme produce original research papers that draw on insights from their unique position embedded in the offices of Canadian Members of Parliament. This panel will feature innovative papers from the 2024-25 Parliamentary Interns, which will employ a diverse set of methods – including surveys, interviews, legal analysis, and the quantitative study of parliamentary debates – to explore a range of pressing subjects. Topics addressed will include: the impact and potential of artificial intelligence on Parliament, the role of committees in a minority Parliament, and pathways to meaningful Indigenous representation in Parliament.

The Clipification of Parliament: Michelle Lewis (Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP))
Abstract: In recent years, MPs have increasingly been producing short video clips of their interventions in parliamentary proceedings and sharing them via social media. Using a series of semi-structured interviews with sitting or recently departed parliamentarians, this paper will explore why and how Canadian MPs use these clips and how much autonomy they exercise in planning and posting them. It will also examine how this emerging form of political communication interacts with traditional parliamentary norms and whether “clipification” reinforces existing practices or is contributing to a shift in parliamentary culture.

Le rôle des comités dans les gouvernements: Emily Wheaton (Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP))
Abstract: Les dynamiques de la rhétorique politique et les ambitions changent radicalement lorsqu'un gouvernement minoritaire est au pouvoir à la Chambre des communes, car le parti gagnant cherche à maintenir la confiance de la Chambre afin de faire adopter des lois et respecter ses promesses électorales. Cela doit forcément se faire à travers une collaboration avec les différents partis de l'opposition. Bien que les recherches sur les gouvernements minoritaires tendent à se concentrer sur la politique partisane au sein de la Chambre elle-même, cet article examine les dynamiques politiques et partisans des membres des comités dont les sièges sont proportionnels aux partis représentés à la Chambre. Il explore le processus de négociation des études de comité entre le parti au pouvoir et les membres de l’opposition, afin de mieux comprendre l’impact d’un gouvernement minoritaire sur le processus législatif dans les comités de la Chambre. De plus, il explore les négociations entre les partis d’oppositions avec les députés et leurs bureaux de whips respectifs en comités. Cet article propose une perspective unique sur les travaux internes d'un domaine de recherche sous-développé en sciences politiques canadiennes : le travail des députés au sein des comités, à travers des entrevues semi-dirigées et des sondages auprès des membres de tous les partis officiels à la Chambre, des bureaux des whips et des bureaux des leaders des partis à la Chambre des communes.

Parliamentary Priorities in the Era of Digital and Social Media: Maya Mohammed (Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP))
Abstract: This paper examines how the evolution of the public digital sphere has shaped the ways Members of Parliament (MPs) navigate their legislative work, public engagement strategies, and decision-making processes. By analyzing both digital media coverage of MPs’ parliamentary actions and MPs' own presence on social media, the study explores how representatives engage with emerging media frames and adapt their communications accordingly. Drawing on a series of semi-structured interviews with MPs and political staff, the paper investigates how MPs choose to engage with digital platforms, the types of narratives they construct or respond to, and the relationships they cultivate with constituents online. In addition to parliamentary perspectives, the study incorporates findings from an anonymous survey of Canadians to assess whether the growing digitalization of political communication enhances public perceptions of democratic trust or risks reducing civic engagement to fast, reactive interactions.

Legislating Trust: Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight of National Security and Intelligence Activities in Canada: Justin Myers (Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP))
Abstract: In recent years, Canada has taken steps to establish parliamentary oversight of national security and intelligence activities. Canada’s oversight body, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), has a broad mandate to review the activities of Canada’s security and intelligence organizations. However, its design as a “Committee of Parliamentarians” rather than a “Parliamentary Committee” has not been without controversy, as this structure grants the executive branch greater control than those models adopted by comparable parliamentary democracies. This framework has contributed to the politicization of NISCOP’s activities, which has resulted in partisan boycotts and a culture of distrust that undermines democratic accountability. Such tensions not only hurt public trust, but may ultimately hinder Canada’s ability to respond effectively to national security threats. This paper examines the legislative and political choices that shaped NSICOP’s formation and explores the political controversies surrounding its operations. By analyzing the rising distrust among opposition Members of Parliament, media actors, and the public, the paper highlights the characteristics of NSICOP that interfere with its efficiency and accountability. A comparative analysis of NSICOP and its counterpart bodies in Australia and the United Kingdom are combined with an examination of the Canadian political atmosphere to inform recommendations for NSICOP’s improvement. Through legislative change, the Canadian government can rebuild trust in democratic institutions and empower Canada’s security and intelligence apparatus to rapidly and effectively respond to threats.