Carleton University’s Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management (PAPM) is a well-regarded undergraduate program that is known to be a feeder program into the Canadian public service. As a highly selective program, PAPM produces Canada’s future politicians, bureaucrats, and public servants. Yet with all this in mind, the program lacks in many areas pertaining to the experiences of BIPOC Canadians.

We live in a world pervaded by racism and Canada is no exception. The reality is racialized Canadians bear the burden of oppression and fight against an exclusionary system that fails to protect their rights. Policies increasingly fail to meet the needs of marginalized groups because they are socially blind to the realities of many Canadians. The Public Affairs and Policy Management program claims to produce Canada’s top policymakers who will alter the fabric of Canadian society. Yet, how may we be expected to accomplish this if we are not being educated on the experiences of all Canadians and have no social consciousness? For PAPM to remain relevant and competitive, the program must innovate to prepare students for the world we are meant to inherit. This means creating a curriculum and environment which addresses these challenging topics and encourages students to formulate tangible solutions. 

Our overall objective will be to make the Public Affairs and Policy Management program more inclusive for BIPOC both in the short and long term. After consulting current students, alumni, and scholarly articles, we have created a list of demands that must be met by September. Another set of demands must be met in six months and implemented in the long run, creating a lasting legacy for both PAPM and Carleton students. Short term courses of action include improvements to the current mentorship program, call-outs for BIPOC alumni, and the establishment of the curriculum and equity board. Long term courses of action include more equitable hiring practices and anti-oppression training, mandatory equity courses, the expansion of the Arthur Kroeger Policy connect program, and more institutional power for the equity and curriculum boards. PAPM must educate students on different perspectives and experiences in order to implement change in Canadian society. PAPM and Arthur Kroeger College as a whole must move towards creating and encouraging safer spaces for racialized groups through the implementation of a variety of strategies with the help of student feedback. By signing the petition, you are not only supporting BIPOC during these historic times but also letting Arthur Kroeger College and PAPM administrators know loud and clear that change is needed now!

We have written a letter to share with the administration. Please read this letter which outlines our objectives and sign the petition to support the cause! Please use this link to find the letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16oFvRa27QUbLfpv013ROQIMNqwZ2SqAfQ3CLQ4rarmI/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you!