Monday, May 12, 2014
On Thursday, April 3rd students and faculty from the Master of Public Service (MPS) program gathered for the third annual MPS Dinner and Talk at the University Club. Students listened to an engaging talk by the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, as she shared her thoughts on policy, program delivery and the impact of public servants.
“I
always
learn
something
when
I
speak
with
university
students
who
are
brilliant
and
engaged”
said
Minister
Matthews
who
was
the
guest
of
honour
at
the
event.
Other
special
guests
included
Dean
of
Arts
Douglas
Peers
and
the
Honourable
Navdeep
Bains,
Member
of
Parliament
for
Mississauga-Brampton
South
from
2004
to
2011,
and
Parliamentary
Secretary
to
the
Prime
Minister
in
2005,
who
currently
is
an
adjunct
lecturer
for
the
MPS
program.
Minister
Matthews
discussed
the
demographic
challenges
that
will
affect
health
care
over
the
next
20
years,
such
as
rising
numbers
of
youth
and
twice
as
many
adults
aged
70
–
75
compared
to
2010.
As
no
stranger
to
transformative
policy
change
in
health
care
and
beyond,
she
acknowledged
that
dedicated
public
servants
play
a
key
role
in
mitigating
the
challenges
faced
by
citizens.
Their
ability
to
“be
creative
and
listen
to
the
people
who
are
impacted
by
the
system”
is
imperative
for
creating
successful
policies.
A
little
passion
also
helps
to
get
the
job
done.
“Never
fall
into
the
trap
of
thinking
that
the
status
quo
is
just
fine,
and
never
lose
your
passion
to
drive
change”
was
one
tip
that
stuck
with
MPS
students
who
are
entering
the
public
service
as
co-op
students
this
May.
Daniel
Henstra,
the
MPS
program
director
and
political
science
professor,
acknowledged
that
the
inspiring
discussion
was
a
wonderful
way
to
wrap
up
the
term
and
prepare
students
for
the
next
step
in
their
professional
journey.
“Our
students
are
excited
to
contribute
to
policy
and
service
delivery
and
we
look
forward
to
the
future
when
they
become
part
of
a
very
impressive
talent
pool
in
the
public
service.”
After
the
evening,
MPS
students
couldn’t
hide
their
enthusiasm
about
kick-starting
their
careers.
“Minister
Matthew's
frank
conversation
relayed
some
of
the
many
challenges
of
working
in
policy
development
while
entreating
us
not
to
lose
our
passion
because
it
will
be
a
driving
force
in
our
work,”
said
current
student
Whitney
Philippi.
“She
expects
big
things
from
us
believing
that
we
are
the
future
of
public
policy.”
Check
out
all
the
evening's
photos
on
the
MPS
Facebook
page.
-
Written
by
Kayla
McKinnon