The school, named the Clayton H. Riddell Graduate School for
Political Management, came under fire last year for failing to release documents
regarding donor information to the Canadian Press. When Carleton University
requested a nine-week extension for the documents, it was declined by the Information Commissioner. What resulted were heavily redacted documents in which key elements,
such as the conditions Carleton University is subjected to as part of an
agreement to house the program, are blacked out. (1) However, it's only a matter of time before the censored portions become open to the public.
According to an article in Carleton University’s student newspaper, Beth Gorham, the manager of Public Affairs at Carleton, claimed the
redacted portions only blacked out “confidential and personal information.”
By giving $15M, Carleton’s biggest donation to date, Riddell established the program in the hopes of impacting Canada's political culture.
Riddell is the CEO of Paramount Resources Ltd., a
corporation he established in 1978 in his home province of Alberta. One of
Paramount’s most significant activities, I think, involves the Athabasca Oil
Sands. [1]
As the footnote below illustrates, the Athabasca Oil Sands operations – and the
entire industry itself – severely alter our environment in a negative way
(duh).
So, it was entirely fitting that the University of Manitoba offer a program named the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources. Riddell, of course, made a hefty donation of $10M inFebruary of 2004 to University of Manitoba in order to start the institute. Not to mention, it makes complete sense for Carleton University, an institution that prides itself over its budding Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering program and its annual Green Energy Symposium, to accept the financial support of a wealthy oil man.
As a corporate head and as a heavy proponent for the oil industry, Riddell has a questionable agenda for setting up a Political Management school in the nation’s capital...
So, it was entirely fitting that the University of Manitoba offer a program named the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources. Riddell, of course, made a hefty donation of $10M inFebruary of 2004 to University of Manitoba in order to start the institute. Not to mention, it makes complete sense for Carleton University, an institution that prides itself over its budding Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering program and its annual Green Energy Symposium, to accept the financial support of a wealthy oil man.
As a corporate head and as a heavy proponent for the oil industry, Riddell has a questionable agenda for setting up a Political Management school in the nation’s capital...
...as does the rest of the program’s faculty.
This blogger outlines brief biographies of some of the most prominent staff on board. The author concludes that “almost
50% of the faculty [listed] have connections to the former Reform party, and
the current Conservative party.”
Moreover, the School has the vocal support of Preston Manning, the current President and CEO of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy. However, he is most famous for founding two of Canada's most right-wing parties: the Reform Party and the Canadian Reform Canadian Alliance. In brief, this is what Preston Manning, the leader of the Reform Party, said about homosexuality and the advancement of Gay Rights: "homosexuality is destructive to the individual, and in the long run, society" (4).
Moreover, the School has the vocal support of Preston Manning, the current President and CEO of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy. However, he is most famous for founding two of Canada's most right-wing parties: the Reform Party and the Canadian Reform Canadian Alliance. In brief, this is what Preston Manning, the leader of the Reform Party, said about homosexuality and the advancement of Gay Rights: "homosexuality is destructive to the individual, and in the long run, society" (4).
For information on the course outlines, the Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program has provided most of their syllabi on their official website. The courses, by and large, seem fairly neutral and display a lack of partisanship, notwithstanding a few concerning issues. First, the course on for Political Campaigns, POLM 5011, has this as one of their topics:
"Voter Contact and Getting Out the Vote: Voter Contact. Voter identification vs. voter persuasion. Phone banking: types of calls, scripts, systems. Information management. Using voters’ lists. Alternative voting methods and their impact on the campaign. Getting out the vote (GOTV)."
This seems to correlate with the Robocalls scandal and the use of automated calling systems during political campaigns.
Second, the Political Advocacy class, POLM 5012, "explores the knowledge, mechanics, and skills necessary to succeed in the practice of political advocacy in Canada." Judging from the course outline, this course primarily teaches how to seize power and to maintain it as long as possible.
Third, the first part of the Political Management Course, POLM 5005, has a lecture devoted to the Access of Information Act, which recently turned 30 years old last week. Surely, the lecture will revolve around spinning the media and ways to handle the Access of Information Act in a "politically sensitive" way. Essentially, how to get around the Act for political gain.
On their official website, MacOdrum Library (Carleton University's library) lists all the books that are held on reserve for summer Political Management courses. Of course, the literature used in courses is only meaningful if we know how exactly they're being used. A quick glance at the book titles show that Tom Flanagan and Marc Lalonde are among the authors studied in the Political Management. But, like I said, having these authors doesn't guarantee that the course will take a right-wing slant, especially in a Graduate program where critical thinking, discussion, and debate is highly encouraged and expected.
"Voter Contact and Getting Out the Vote: Voter Contact. Voter identification vs. voter persuasion. Phone banking: types of calls, scripts, systems. Information management. Using voters’ lists. Alternative voting methods and their impact on the campaign. Getting out the vote (GOTV)."
This seems to correlate with the Robocalls scandal and the use of automated calling systems during political campaigns.
Second, the Political Advocacy class, POLM 5012, "explores the knowledge, mechanics, and skills necessary to succeed in the practice of political advocacy in Canada." Judging from the course outline, this course primarily teaches how to seize power and to maintain it as long as possible.
Third, the first part of the Political Management Course, POLM 5005, has a lecture devoted to the Access of Information Act, which recently turned 30 years old last week. Surely, the lecture will revolve around spinning the media and ways to handle the Access of Information Act in a "politically sensitive" way. Essentially, how to get around the Act for political gain.
On their official website, MacOdrum Library (Carleton University's library) lists all the books that are held on reserve for summer Political Management courses. Of course, the literature used in courses is only meaningful if we know how exactly they're being used. A quick glance at the book titles show that Tom Flanagan and Marc Lalonde are among the authors studied in the Political Management. But, like I said, having these authors doesn't guarantee that the course will take a right-wing slant, especially in a Graduate program where critical thinking, discussion, and debate is highly encouraged and expected.
What is especially compelling are the testimonials of former
students, the former students being the class of 2011. According to Carleton’s
official testimonial video, the school emphasizes “diversity” and “sharing of opinions.”
I conducted a search to inquire about the students via their LinkedIn pages and
found some telling results:
Matthew Burbidge, the creator of the Political Management Graduate Program group on LinkedIn, is currently the Special Assistant at the PMO (Prime Minister's Office.) He's also worked in the office for the Conservative MP Laurie Hawn. Here are some of Burbidge's tweets (which are available for public viewing) if you aren't entirely convinced of his Tory loyalties:
The tweets speak for themselves as they're evident Conservative propaganda. Although, there are some noteworthy things to point out: 1) The website Burbidge links in the first tweet is none other than EthicalOil.ca; 2) There are, in fact, bad jobs regardless of what Jim Flaherty says otherwise; and 3) The link that Burbidge adds to his third tweet is from the National Post. Specifically, an editorial that lambasts the criticism made by Archbishop Desmond Tutu regarding the Alberta Oil Sands. The National Post, of course, has very close ties with Oil Corporations and have adopted a "sales-pitch" style when writing articles about the Oil Sands.
Sebastien Togneri is among the 20 or so students who took POLM 5010. Some of you may recognize him as the former Conservative aide who resigned after the RCMP investigated into his interference in an access-to-information request which is against the law. However, Rona Amrbose, the Minister of Public Works, dropped the investigation in August 2011. Three lobby groups -- the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Newspapers Canada, and the B.C. Freedom of Information Privacy Association -- have since criticized Togneri and rightfully so. (5) Togneri is mandated to take POLM 5005, a course that was discussed earlier in this post. Although Togneri's enrollment in the class isn't causal of the course devoting a week to analyzing the Access of Information Act, it certainly is telling.
Dan White, a self-proclaimed CPC and PC activist, has served for three Tory MPs -- Eve Adams, Gary Schellenberger, and Peter Braid -- as an assistant. Like Burbidge, he opines about current affairs while dishing out Tory rhetoric and propaganda. Here are some of his most noteworthy tweets:
Ian Kaufman, who is featured in the testimonial video for the Graduate School, is currently an intern analyst for MacPhie & Company. According to their official website, MacPhie & Company "offers strategic planning services in the public, private and non-profit sectors." On their 'Our Experience,' they claim their job is to help clients "influence opinions." In essence, the firm handles Communications services and "business strategy." As you can see in the profile picture on his LinkedIn, that's him on the left, all atingle, right next to Stephen Harper.
Andrew McGrath is currently the Communications Assistant for the Minister of Public Safety, Vic Toews. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa and also takes to his Twitter page to communicate his opinions that are, according to him, "my own." Like his colleagues, he supports Danielle Smith, trash-talks the NDP and Thomas Mulcair, specifically his correct assertion that the country is suffering from Dutch Disease, and complains about the Quebec Protests, dismissing the protesters in a hashtag as "damn kids." Although this hashtag is mostly in jest, it's still very telling and is aligned with Conservative popular thought on the general protests on Quebec's austerity measures.
The two other students featured in the testimonial video, Jackie DaSilva and Dan Murray, offer little information about their respective positions as either an Intern for an MP or Research Analyst for the Federal Government. Judging from DaSilva's twitter page, however, we can deduce that she is not a Tory as her Profile Picture is draped with the 'Blackout Speakout' Twibbon. She has tweeted about Occupy Wall Street, Elizabeth May, and Sierra Club as well as dished out criticism on Bill C-38 and the Oil Sands.
Likewise, judging from Dan Murphy's tweets and following list, it's natural to assume he's a Grit, through and through.
Moreover, another student, Tyler Sommers, is a Coordinator for the organization Democracy Watch. Kevin Geiger is currently the Deputy Finance Director for Democratic Senator, Maria Cantwell.
So, what does this tell us?
Nothing, really. Students are both Tories and Grits/NDPs. In fact, guest speakers have included noted left-wingers such as Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Liberal MPP for Ottawa Centre Yasir Naqvi. That said, it's hard to say what will occur in the next 5, 10, or 15 years as more students enroll and as more noted academics or politicians are invited to join the School's faculty. Will the School allow a more diversified staff or will the Riddell and Manning connections influence who teaches?
Whatever the reasons Clayton Riddell had for establishing the school, you have to admit that it was pretty tactical and shrewd. Carleton University is renowned nation-wide for their prestigious Journalism, International Relations, and Public Affairs programs. Now, some of the most talented students in any of these fields interested in a career in public service would not have to look further than Carleton to study Political Management. To drive this point home, in their annual university rankings, Maclean's Magazine once called Carleton University "the route to government" since most Carleton University grads often find work in the public sector.
What I find the most interesting in this whole debacle is the fact that Carleton University, one of Canada's most Left-wing universities (as student testimonials will tell you), is now the institution that houses a Graduate program like the Clayton H. Riddell School of Political Management. A school with a very prominent GLBTQ society now associates itself with Preston Manning.
A school that has this on one of its murals...
...now associates itself with the same Tories they would normally say do a half-ass job.
Matthew Burbidge, the creator of the Political Management Graduate Program group on LinkedIn, is currently the Special Assistant at the PMO (Prime Minister's Office.) He's also worked in the office for the Conservative MP Laurie Hawn. Here are some of Burbidge's tweets (which are available for public viewing) if you aren't entirely convinced of his Tory loyalties:
Thomas Mulcair can’t see the difference between Canada and Nigeria shar.es/q16WJ
— Matthew Burbidge(@MBurbidge) May 18, 2012
There are no bad jobs soc.li/CFmzNxE
— Matthew Burbidge(@MBurbidge) May 15, 2012
Enough hypocrisy!You can’t excuse yourself from the energy equation! lnkd.in/A4bZtV
— Matthew Burbidge(@MBurbidge) December 5, 2011
The tweets speak for themselves as they're evident Conservative propaganda. Although, there are some noteworthy things to point out: 1) The website Burbidge links in the first tweet is none other than EthicalOil.ca; 2) There are, in fact, bad jobs regardless of what Jim Flaherty says otherwise; and 3) The link that Burbidge adds to his third tweet is from the National Post. Specifically, an editorial that lambasts the criticism made by Archbishop Desmond Tutu regarding the Alberta Oil Sands. The National Post, of course, has very close ties with Oil Corporations and have adopted a "sales-pitch" style when writing articles about the Oil Sands.
Sebastien Togneri is among the 20 or so students who took POLM 5010. Some of you may recognize him as the former Conservative aide who resigned after the RCMP investigated into his interference in an access-to-information request which is against the law. However, Rona Amrbose, the Minister of Public Works, dropped the investigation in August 2011. Three lobby groups -- the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Newspapers Canada, and the B.C. Freedom of Information Privacy Association -- have since criticized Togneri and rightfully so. (5) Togneri is mandated to take POLM 5005, a course that was discussed earlier in this post. Although Togneri's enrollment in the class isn't causal of the course devoting a week to analyzing the Access of Information Act, it certainly is telling.
Dan White, a self-proclaimed CPC and PC activist, has served for three Tory MPs -- Eve Adams, Gary Schellenberger, and Peter Braid -- as an assistant. Like Burbidge, he opines about current affairs while dishing out Tory rhetoric and propaganda. Here are some of his most noteworthy tweets:
Todays White Paper from @timhudak stands up for the freedom of workers #onpoli
— Dan White (@DanAHWhite) June 27, 2012
One year of our strong stable national majority Conservative government #cpc #cdnpoli
— Dan White (@DanAHWhite) May 2, 2012
Only @ElectDanielle can lead Alberta back to surplus, she needs to be the next Premier of Alberta #abvote #cdnpoli
— Dan White (@DanAHWhite) April 14, 2012
I am proud to call @ElectDanielle one of my political heroes, her professionalism showed this week is an example politicians should follow
— Dan White (@DanAHWhite) April 1, 2012
And the next leader of the 4th party following the next election is... #NDPldr #NotToppLike Burbidge's tweets, I can't really provide any commentary on this...they speak for themselves.
— Dan White (@DanAHWhite) March 25, 2012
Ian Kaufman, who is featured in the testimonial video for the Graduate School, is currently an intern analyst for MacPhie & Company. According to their official website, MacPhie & Company "offers strategic planning services in the public, private and non-profit sectors." On their 'Our Experience,' they claim their job is to help clients "influence opinions." In essence, the firm handles Communications services and "business strategy." As you can see in the profile picture on his LinkedIn, that's him on the left, all atingle, right next to Stephen Harper.
Andrew McGrath is currently the Communications Assistant for the Minister of Public Safety, Vic Toews. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa and also takes to his Twitter page to communicate his opinions that are, according to him, "my own." Like his colleagues, he supports Danielle Smith, trash-talks the NDP and Thomas Mulcair, specifically his correct assertion that the country is suffering from Dutch Disease, and complains about the Quebec Protests, dismissing the protesters in a hashtag as "damn kids." Although this hashtag is mostly in jest, it's still very telling and is aligned with Conservative popular thought on the general protests on Quebec's austerity measures.
The two other students featured in the testimonial video, Jackie DaSilva and Dan Murray, offer little information about their respective positions as either an Intern for an MP or Research Analyst for the Federal Government. Judging from DaSilva's twitter page, however, we can deduce that she is not a Tory as her Profile Picture is draped with the 'Blackout Speakout' Twibbon. She has tweeted about Occupy Wall Street, Elizabeth May, and Sierra Club as well as dished out criticism on Bill C-38 and the Oil Sands.
Likewise, judging from Dan Murphy's tweets and following list, it's natural to assume he's a Grit, through and through.
Moreover, another student, Tyler Sommers, is a Coordinator for the organization Democracy Watch. Kevin Geiger is currently the Deputy Finance Director for Democratic Senator, Maria Cantwell.
So, what does this tell us?
Nothing, really. Students are both Tories and Grits/NDPs. In fact, guest speakers have included noted left-wingers such as Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Liberal MPP for Ottawa Centre Yasir Naqvi. That said, it's hard to say what will occur in the next 5, 10, or 15 years as more students enroll and as more noted academics or politicians are invited to join the School's faculty. Will the School allow a more diversified staff or will the Riddell and Manning connections influence who teaches?
Whatever the reasons Clayton Riddell had for establishing the school, you have to admit that it was pretty tactical and shrewd. Carleton University is renowned nation-wide for their prestigious Journalism, International Relations, and Public Affairs programs. Now, some of the most talented students in any of these fields interested in a career in public service would not have to look further than Carleton to study Political Management. To drive this point home, in their annual university rankings, Maclean's Magazine once called Carleton University "the route to government" since most Carleton University grads often find work in the public sector.
What I find the most interesting in this whole debacle is the fact that Carleton University, one of Canada's most Left-wing universities (as student testimonials will tell you), is now the institution that houses a Graduate program like the Clayton H. Riddell School of Political Management. A school with a very prominent GLBTQ society now associates itself with Preston Manning.
A school that has this on one of its murals...
...now associates itself with the same Tories they would normally say do a half-ass job.
[1] For some background on the Athabasca Oil Sands, to wit: according to the David Suzuki Foundation, the Athabasca Oil Sands has increased the number of carcinogens in the environment therefore affecting the cancer rates of Alberta, which used to be lower than the Atlantic Provinces. However, a study by the Alberta Health Services in 2009 concluded that there was an increase in cancer rates among residents in the Fort Chipewyan region between 1995-2006.(2) Oil sands operations have also shown to be responsible for deadly toxins in the nearby Athabasca River. Toxins, like mercury and arsenic, which heavily affect the fish population in Alberta. (3)
Note: This is a story that is far from being over, as this article from the Ottawa Citizen demonstrates: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Carleton+University+renegotiation+over+politics+school+blindsides+donor/6925582/story.html
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