Understanding Political Issues Assignment

Understanding Political Issues Assignment

Purpose:

To apply the experience and learning from the readings and discussions to practical situations related to being a political citizen in Canada.

Check Tips on how to do your Social Work Assignment.

Learning Outcomes:

The main course outcomes covered by this assignment are:

4) Review topical cases and analyze the roles and responsibilities of local, provincial and federal government. Present how various levels of government have responded to situations and what student/allies could do to improve timely change.

6) Identify and distinguish between strategies and models which when applied garner a fulsome response in anti- oppressive advocacy. Understanding formal and informal sources of power and influence and demonstrating how power structures need to be engaged for effective advocacy.

8) Identify and implement models for effective advocacy. Discern what the injustices are and develop partnerships by identifying the various systemic power structures.

9) Identify barriers that have been endured and continue to plague our Indigenous population by understanding the political/governmental implications.

Understanding Political Issues Assignment

Part A – Your Political Life

Reflect on what you have learned in the course and your experience of engaging with politics in general (i.e., how you stay informed about what’s going on and/or ways you actively participate in the system, e.g., voting, signing petitions, campaigning) – speak mainly to your experiences here in Canada, but if that is limited you can also add experiences in other countries if applicable.

Answer the following questions (for each question: minimum of 40 words (approx. 20 seconds for audio/video); no references are required):

In what ways do you currently learn about and/or engage in politics? What challenges do you face?

What do you feel are the main strengths of the Canadian political system and why?

What do you feel needs to change in the current Canadian political system and why?

Part B – Your Political Representation

Research the political representatives where you live in Canada (if you currently reside outside of Canada, select a location in Canada where you have lived or someone you know lives) at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Answer the following questions (for each question: minimum of 40 words (approx. 20 seconds for audio/video); no references are required):

Understanding Political Issues Assignment

Municipal – your City Councillor (NOTE: this is NOT the mayor; this is the person who represents the municipal region you live in on city council)

Provide their name, the riding/region they represent, plus a link to their website. What do you feel is their main platform? (i.e., what they stand for, issues important to them)

Do you feel this person is a good representative for you? Why or why not?

Provincial – your Member of Provincial Parliament (NOTE: this is NOT Doug Ford (unless you live in his riding); this is the person who represents the provincial riding you live in at provincial parliament)

Provide their name, which party they belong to, the riding/region they represent, plus a link to their website. What do you feel is their main platform? (i.e., what they stand for, issues important to them)

Do you feel this person is a good representative for you? Why or why not?

Federal – your Member of Parliament (NOTE: this is NOT Justin Trudeau; this is the person who represents the federal riding you live in at federal parliament)

Provide their name, which party they belong to, the riding/region they represent, plus a link to their website. What do you feel is their main platform? (i.e., what they stand for, issues important to them)

Do you feel this person is a good representative for you? Why or why not.

Understanding Political Issues Assignment

Part C – Political Citizenship

Reflect on the way citizens can influence or get more engaged with politics. Answer the following questions (for each question: minimum of 40 words (approx. 20 seconds for audio/video); no references required):

Think of a time you or someone you know or have heard of (e.g., someone you’ve seen in the media) who has influenced the government in some way (at any level: federal, provincial, or municipal – even something simple like having a stop sign added on a busy road, or helping out a candidate running for office, etc              ):

Briefly, what was the situation or issue?

What actions did they take?

What was the main outcome?

Why do you think they were successful?

Part D – Self Reflection

Reflect on your experience of completing this assignment.

Answer the following questions (for each question: minimum of 40 words (approx. 20 seconds for audio/video); no references required):

What were some interesting or surprising things you experienced or learned while completing this

assignment (e.g., could be about your own self, an insight you gained, etc…)?

How will you approach your work as a Social Service Worker differently because of what you learned in the course so far relating to the Canadian political system?