News

She is a fourth-year Political Science PhD student conducting research in reproductive health. Eleanor shares her graduate studies experience in the Political Science department. 

“My dissertation is about the lack of complete and accurate data on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in Canada, the absence of a national program of investigations into maternal deaths, and why we haven’t been able to fix it since it was first identified as a problem over 100 years ago.” The topic emerged during coursework when she read about efforts to improve data collection. “I was shocked that this was such a problem here and given that I also have a personal connection to the issue, this became my thesis research topic.” 

Read more about Eleanor’s research and student life experience: https://uwaterloo.ca/arts/blog/lived-experience-legislative-impact  

Prof. Macfarlane published a new book in August 2025 called "Rights and Parliamentary Systems in Canada and Beyond."

International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics 18.2 (2025): 432-442.  This one examines new legislation (and proposals for legislation) to require people who use illicit substances to obtain treatment. It looks at some of the consequences of this kind of law for parents and pregnant people who use drugs, including that it is likely to deter people from seeking out prenatal care. Article linked here.

Dr. Emmett Macfarlane contributed to a guest post on 'Reimagining Graduate Education' on the Substack. Read the full post here.

The International Political Economy Best Book Award recognizes an outstanding monograph in the field of IPE published within the past two years. 

Congratulations to the 2024 recipient of the IPE Best Book Award, Eric Helleiner for The Contested World Economy: The Deep and Global Roots of International Political Economy! 

Diversity is good for business

At a time when global migration is at a record high, Prof. Momani, is examining the impact of immigration on the bottom lines of Canadian businesses. Her research shows that across all sectors in Canada, a 1% increase in workforce diversity corresponds to an average increase of 2.4% increase in revenue and a 0.5% increase in productivity. Momani explores how Canada is uniquely positioned to harness the benefits of immigration, a benefit that she has named Canada’s diversity dividend.

On March 29th Dr. Anna Esselment moderated a panel on “#MeToo and Parliament” in Ottawa as part of the Canadian Study of Parliament Group seminar series.

"Conventional Deterrence and Landpower in Northeastern Europe" Authored by Dr. Alexander Lanoszka, Dr. Michael A. Hunzeker.

MPS Visits Ottawa

Twenty-two MPS students made their way to Ottawa on February 22 to participate in a policy jam session graciously hosted by the Treasury Board of Canada, and Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada.

The Department of Political Science is thrilled to celebrate the return of the Master of Public Service (MPS) program to the main campus of the University of Waterloo. Steve Orsini, Secretary of the Cabinet, Head of the Ontario Public Service and Clerk of the Executive Council gave the keynote address on Friday, November 24, 2017  during the formal grand opening of the program's new space.

The MPS program can now be found in East Campus 5.