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Master of Public Policy (MPP) students at the School of Public Policy recently participated in a hands-on simulation recreating a Canadian First Ministers’ Meeting, led by Dr. Anthony Sayers, Director of Canadian Governance Policy at the School. 

“We had to bring our A-game, not only to negotiations, but during the meeting itself,” said Akiff Lakani, the MPP student who took on the role of prime minister. “That included delivering a strong position: one that didn’t sacrifice our position, one that could keep the provinces united despite the many unique challenges.” 

First Ministers’ Meetings bring together Canada’s prime minister, provincial premiers and territorial leaders to discuss national issues and negotiate policy priorities that require cooperation across governments. 

“If you want to get really important things done, you need to get all the premiers in a room,” said Sayers. 

For the session, the students walked through the full meeting process, beginning with research on their assigned jurisdiction, analyzing demographics, economic conditions and key issues, before producing briefing papers that inform their bargaining positions. 

“If this is where public policy is made, students can be exposed to how politicians figure out what they should ask for and how they should negotiate to get what they want, which is all about strategy,” said Sayers. “The underlying reason why we should run the simulation.” 

Leading up to the simulation, students met in groups, negotiated memorandums of understanding, and attempted to build coalitions around issues such as healthcare, immigration, labour force development, internal trade and economic development. The team representing the federal government worked directly with provinces to negotiate agreements, much like real-world First Ministers’ Meetings. 

“It often felt like we were juggling moving pieces without being able to fully see them,” said Lakani. “And just when things seemed to settle, everything would shift again.” 

Beyond reinforcing lessons from the classroom, the simulation emphasized practical, career-ready skills. Students learn how to connect data to decision-making, navigate complex negotiations and adapt under pressure, experiences that reflect real-world policy environments. 

“Experiential learning is valuable for students,” said Sayers. “They learn how to write a briefing paper and how to negotiate with a unique position to find some common ground.”