Carleton University is awaiting final approval for the fall launch of the Clayton H. Riddell Graduation program in political management, the first of its kind in Canada.

“At the moment there is no formal educational route [in Canada] for people who want to become political staffers or advisors,” explained Chris Dornan, director of the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs. “[The program] will be a positive contribution to the political culture of the country and is long overdue.”

Dornan said the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies is in the process of reviewing the university’s proposal, but those pitching the program believe strongly it will be given the green light.

If given the go-ahead, the program would be housed under the Faculty of Public Affairs and offer a formal education to 20 to 25 graduate students interested in working as political staff or advisers in all levels of politics.

Accepted students will take communications and campaign management courses as well as political ethics.

“This degree is not designed exclusively with Parliament Hill in mind,” Dornan said. “Nonetheless, this program will benefit national political culture, if only based off of Carleton’s location.”

Funded by a $15 million donation from Calgary entrepreneur Clayton H. Riddell, the program was the brainchild of former Reform MP Preston Manning.
   
According to Dornan, the program at Carleton would be appropriate, based on Carleton’s location and the school’s respected faculty of public affairs.

Further, the program will include a combination of both professional and academic skills, similar to what is offered through the Faculty’s reputable Journalism program, necessary for surviving the political world.

While Dornan admits that it will be impossible to teach those accepted to the program everything there is to know about political management in only ten months, he hopes it will at least give them a step-up over those with no formal training.

“I hope graduates from this degree are going to be leaders,” Dornan said, “with a profound respect for political civility and ethics.”