MPA Spring Convocation 

Friday June 23, 2023

10:00 a.m.

Reception to follow in Robert Sutherland Hall, 202 at 12:00 (noon).

Discover why a Professional Master of Public Administration is right for you! 

Learning begins with you. With the Queen's MPA degree you will be prepared for new leadership roles, to take on more responsibility, and to have a greater impact on the world of public policy.

Queen's MPA students are talented, highly motivated professionals from a variety of backgrounds. The Queen's approach to learning builds on your practical work experience, and fosters strong, collaborative relationships with other professionals who are committed to public service. 

The Professional MPA program allows you to continue working full time while pursuing your degree.

Lt-General (ret'd) the Honourable Andrew Leslie will dicuss Russia's War in Ukraine - why it started, how it's going, what does it mean for the rest of us, Canada's role in comparison to others, and what might happen next.

Join Ontario Liberal MPP Kingston and the Islands, Ted Hsu on an open discussion:  Declining Trust in Government.

The Department of Political Studies, the Electoral Integrity Project, the Institute for Intergovernmental Relations, and the School of Policy Studies present:

“Citizen Election Observers in Theory and Practice”

with Martyna Hoffman and Rebecca Wagner of the Electoral Integrity Project

Tuesday, March 21st, 12:00 – 1:30 pm

Robert Sutherland Hall, Room 202

*Light lunch provided

Abstract:

International election observation has become one of the key instruments of international democracy promotion. Less well known but equally widespread, however, are citizen observers. Yet the Copenhagen Document of 1990 and the Venice Commission of 2002 have affirmed that “the participating States consider that the presence of observers, both foreign and domestic, can enhance the electoral process in States where elections are held.” Against the backdrop of global democratic backsliding, this seminar will provide a historical overview of the origins of international and domestic election observation, as well as their fundamental norms and principles. Two empirical case studies will discuss recent developments and challenges in citizen election observation and its role in promoting citizen trust in elections. First, a case study will examine how citizen observers face restrictions and threats during elections, how they respond, and the role of trust in their ability to respond. Second, the case of Poland will be used to discuss the role that citizen observers can play in building trust in elections, and how their actions might be considered to have the opposite effect.

Biographies:

Rebecca Wagner is a doctoral researcher at the Peace Research Institute (PRIF) in Frankfurt where she conducts research on resistance and resilience, international democracy support, civil society and elections. Before joining PRIF, Rebecca gained more than seven years’ experience of international human rights and democracy support work, including participating in ODIHR /OSCE Election Observation Missions and serving as a civic observer. Her most recent election observation mission took her to the USA Midterm Elections in 2022. Rebecca Wagner is member of the research network External Democracy Promotion (EDP). She has degrees from Leiden University, the Netherlands, and the University of Konstanz, Germany.

Martyna Hoffman is a sociologist and PhD student at Nicolaus Copernicus University. Her research focuses on voting accessibility. She runs the research project "On the edge of democracy? Active suffrage practices of people in a situation of homelessness", funded by the Polish National Science Center. She collaborates with Political Accountability Foundation (Fundacja Odpowiedzialna Polityka) - a Polish NGO specialising in election observation. She completed her MA and BA in Sociology at Nicolaus Copernicus University.

Queen’s School of policy Studies is pleased to host its fourth expert panel discussion on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over three years since the first session, and just over one since the third, our panelists will focus on what we didn't know, what we know and what we wished we had known, the expected and unexpected and policies and principles for next time.

Panelists:

Dr. Gerald Evans Professor of Medicine, Chair, division of Infectious Diseases, Queen’s University; director of infection prevention and control Kingston Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Kieran Moore Chief Medical Officer of Health, Province of Ontario. Professor, Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine, Queen’s University

Dr. Samantha Buttemer Assistant Professor, Public Health Sciences and Policy Studies; advisor to Queen’s University on COVID-19

Dr. David Walker Professor, Emergency Medicine and Policy Studies; Special advisor to the Principal on COVID-19; Former Board Chair, Public Health Ontario and chair, Ontario’s Expert Panel on SARS

An day trip for current MPA program students to Capital Hill in Ottawa Ontario.

Zoom | Register here

Alright, Now What? Centring Gender Justice in the Pandemic Recovery

The pandemic has exposed hard truths about the state of gender and racial justice in Canada. It has also shaken decades of progress toward equality. But it also presents us with a unique opportunity. As we look to the future of Canada, we have the chance to reset normal and build toward a vision of intersectional gender justice that benefits everyone.

Paulette Senior, President and CEO of the Canadian Women's Foundation, will address key policy lessons learned during the pandemic and discuss how we can use these lessons to recover and "shock-proof' the country against future crises.