UBC History alum Shane Atienza (BA ’23) is completing an internship with the Canadian House of Commons.
Shane is currently pursuing his Masters degree at the Department of History. We recently caught up with him to learn more about his time in Ottawa, how the BA in History helped shape his journey to the Parliament Hill and why it is important to be open to different perspectives.
Shane Atienza (back row: fifth from left) with the Hon. Francis Scarpaleggia (third from left, front row), 40th Speaker of the House of Commons and the 56th cohort of the Parliamentary Internship Programme.
What are you doing in Ottawa right now?
I’m currently in Ottawa as part of the Parliamentary Internship Programme, which places 12 young professionals in the offices of Members of Parliament for 10 months. As a bilingual, non-partisan intern, I’ve had the opportunity to work with both a member of the Government and an Official Opposition MP. It has been an incredible opportunity to see the important work happening on both sides of the aisle.
Has your training as a History student at UBC prepared you for this work?
Absolutely. Studying history teaches you how to research complex questions, evaluate sources critically, and communicate clearly; all of those skills are essential in a political environment. As a Canadianist in particular, I find myself drawing on the historical perspectives about Canada and the world that I’ve gained from the History Department. I know that we always say that History isn’t about names and dates, but I do sometimes find myself filling in the gaps when folks need to recall, say, when the Indian Act was first passed, or the day the constitution was patriated!
“Studying history teaches you how to research complex questions, evaluate sources critically, and communicate clearly; all of those skills are essential in a political environment.”
What does a typical day look like for you as a parliamentary intern?
No two days are quite the same, but some of my tasks include prepping for and attending standing committee meetings, as well as drafting correspondence, speeches, and questions to be posed in the House. I’ve even had the chance to see the Prime Minister bolting by before Question Period, and teach the Leader of the Opposition a new Québecois word!
What has surprised you most about working on Parliament Hill?
One thing that has struck me is how much collaboration and relationship-building happens behind the scenes. While the parliamentary debates you see on TV or your social media feed can be strikingly adversarial, there’s also a lot of conviviality and cooperation amongst parliamentarians, staffers, and public servants to make the system work. Observing that human side of politics up close has given me more faith in our system.
What’s a piece of advice you’d give to students from your time on the Hill?
Be openminded, don’t be quick to judge, and make a point of building relationships with people you disagree with. Being on the Hill has really showcased the importance of hearing different perspectives and getting along with folks from across the political and ideological spectrum. I’m constantly surrounded by people with deeply different views, and yet there’s an expectation that you engage, listen, and work through those differences in a serious way.
“I’m constantly surrounded by people with deeply different views, and yet there’s an expectation that you engage, listen, and work through those differences in a serious way.”
I’d tell students to reflect on the fact that discussions on campus can sometimes narrow rather than expand. As much as we try to avoid it, classrooms and student lounges can become echo chambers where certain views are reinforced and others are ostracised, even when they actually aren’t all that different. That kind of dynamic can be really exclusionary, even when it presents itself as openness. Disagreement doesn’t make a perspective worthless, nor does it mean someone is acting in bad faith. Some of the most worthwhile conversations I’ve had on the Hill have come from hearing out and engaging with people I disagreed with, and we’d all benefit from doing more of that.
