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Political Science Program
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Recent UNBC Grad among Youngest Cabinet
Members in Canadian History
November 10, 2011
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A 26 year-old graduate of the University of Northern British Columbia
(UNBC) is now among the youngest cabinet ministers in Canadian history. In fact,
the Hon. Currie Dixon, who was sworn in as Yukon’s Minister of the Environment
and Economic Development on November 5, just completed his master’s degree in
political science at UNBC in May, 2011.
“Some people may believe that
it’s a little counter-intuitive to be named both Minister of the Environment
and Minister of Economic Development, but it’s critically important that we
develop our resources in ways that are environmentally sustainable” says Dixon,
who hails from Whitehorse and is the MLA for Copperbelt North, Yukon’s second
most populated riding. “If I hadn’t gone to UNBC and attained my master’s
degree, I don’t believe I would have advanced to the position of Senior Policy
Advisor to Premier Pasloski, continued my involvement in politics, and
ultimately been elected to represent the people of my riding.”
“Currie
was one of the best students I’ve ever supervised,” says UNBC Political Science
professor Gary Wilson, who supervised Dixon’s master’s project. The research
paper involved the relationship between Yukon First Nations and the Yukon
government with respect to Education. “He was very bright and passionate about
his topic so it’s not surprising that he’s had such success so soon after
graduation.”
UNBC has a history of producing politically-motivated young
people, including Dixon and Canada’s current Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Official Languages, James Moore, who graduated from UNBC with a BA in Political
Science and went on to become the fourth-youngest MP ever to be named to the
Federal Cabinet.
“I benefitted from having excellent and easily
accessible professors at UNBC,” says Dixon, whose portfolio now includes
sustainably developing Yukon’s burgeoning oil, gas, and mining sectors. “I
believe the skills and training I learned at UNBC have given me an ability to be
much more analytical and objective when it comes to policy and political
decision-making. I can’t say enough about UNBC.”
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Media Download
Click on a thumbnail to access a high
resolution image.
The Hon. Currie Dixon
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Contact:
Currie
Dixon, Minister of Economic Development and the Environment, Yukon
Government - 867.667.5800
Gary
Wilson, Professor of Political Science, UNBC - 250.960.5514
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GRADS 2011
"In the north for the north"
Canada, its politics, economics, society and workplace, is
becoming dramatically more diverse and more global. New opportunities
are open to those who are equipped to meet the challenges of a changing
Canada and changing world. Political science helps students to be a
part of those new opportunities, and to direct their lives and careers,
by providing the intellectual tools needed to understand and analyze
real world problems, conduct research and arrive at generally
acceptable solutions.
The Political Science program equips students to see the
implications of the changing world around us, learn about the ethos,
changes and opportunities in our and in other countries, and to have a
well developed understanding of our values and political system. Beyond
this, a major in Political Science is an especially useful preparation
for students who wish to pursue careers in business, public service,
law or communications. The program in Political Science allows for
specialization in Canadian politics, comparative politics and public
administration. |
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University of Northern British Columbia
3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada, V2N 4Z9 | |
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