From the headlines to the classroom

As a trade war looms between Canada and the United States, students from Dr. Erin Hannah’s POL 3365G: Global Political Economy class had a chance to learn more about Canadian foreign policy from an advisor to the Prime Minister and an expert in the field, one who once walked the same halls they do now.

On February 6, 2025, Stephen de Boer, Deputy Minister and Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, took part in a roundtable discussion with the class.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our students to engage with one of Canada’s foremost experts on Canadian foreign policy,” says Dr. Hannah.

de Boer told the students that they would need to be innovative and flexible to find the right experience and the right entry points into jobs.

“Don’t be afraid to cold call and go off the beaten path. Don’t assume that because a door closes on you, that's it. Don’t get discouraged, because it's not a straight line. Make your CV as interesting as possible. Think of those innovative experiences you can take part of. Do the work. The person who can write well go far. Just do a good job. Toiling in the trenches can get you way further and way more interesting later on,” de Boer told the students.

In another example of the kind of experiential learning that King’s offers, meeting with de Boer gave students a chance to gain real-work knowledge into the issues they are reading about in the news in this critical moment in Canadian history.

Isaac Wills, a third-year Sociology and Politics & International Relations student, said he appreciated how de Boer’s visit to King’s proved that any student could go on to be in a position like he is, being able to travel the world, being a part of the World Trade Organization and making a change in the world.

“It’s great how passionate he is, which makes me want to make a change, and how he wants things to become more prosperous in the future,” says Wills.

From de Boer, it was a chance to return to King’s, where he completed two years of his BA in Political Science (from 1983 to 1985), and speak to students.

de Boer was very impressed with how engaged and informed the King’s students were. “It was a real pleasure to talk to them. It’s a breath of fresh air. I think it’s important for them to understand what I do, but also how they can fit into this discussion.”

de Boer completed a B.A. in Political Science (1986) and Bachelor of Laws (1989) from Western University. In 1991, he completed his Master of Laws Georgetown University, specializing in international and comparative law.

Prior to his current position, de Boer was Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s International Affairs Branch in 2022-2023. From 2017 to 2022, he served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, where he led Canada’s inclusive trade agenda on the multilateral stage.

de Boer was a member of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) beginning in 2005 and held various positions in the department, including in the Investment Trade Policy and North America Trade Policy Divisions. In 2006, he was named the Director of the Softwood Lumber Division. From 2008 to 2010, he served as the Director of the Oceans and Environmental Law Division and as Lead Counsel for Canada’s international climate change negotiations. In 2010, he joined Environment Canada as the Deputy Chief Negotiator for climate change and the Director General responsible for Canada’s international climate change negotiations and partnerships. de Boer returned to Global Affairs Canada in 2013 as the Director General of the Trade Controls Bureau. In 2015, he was appointed Ambassador to Poland and in 2016, Ambassador to Belarus. Prior to joining the public service, he worked for the Government of Ontario.