All Members of Parliament representing officially recognized parties are eligible to host a Parliamentary Intern provided they are not serving as a cabinet minister or a party leader.
The Canadian Political Science Association has managed the Programme in cooperation with the House of Commons since the Programme was established with all-party support in 1969. To show our commitment to non-partisanship, each intern must work for one MP in government and one MP in opposition during two separate allocation periods. Parliamentary Interns are allocated among opposition parties based on their representation in the House. In the current Parliament, there will be five interns with Liberal MPs, three with Conservative MPs, one with an NDP MP, and one with a BQ MP during each allocation period.
Interns work closely with their MPs and their staff. They often assist with committee work – reviewing reports, meeting with advocates, drafting questions, and assisting in pre-committee and committee meetings. They also prepare questions and speeches for House debates, write editorials and press releases, and help draft Private Members Bills. MPs regularly invite interns to visit their constituencies, where they are called on assist with casework, public consultations and community meetings.
The interns interview all interested MPs who apply to host an intern (typically 40 – 60 per year). The interns then select their government and opposition placements as a group based on their own policy interests.
MP placements 2021-2022
The Parliamentary Interns, the Parliamentary Internship Programme, and its stakeholders thank all the MPs who applied for interns this year and, most especially, those hosting interns in their offices.
During their first period (November 15, 2021 – March 11, 2022), the allocations are:
- Jenica Atwin, Fredericton (LIB) – intern Ryan Jamula
- Terry Beech, Burnaby North-Seymour (LIB) – intern Charles Bernard
- Rachel Bendayan, Outremont (LIB) – intern Harriet Crossfield
- Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Beaches-East York (LIB) – intern Jonathan Ferguson
- Andy Fillmore, Halifax (LIB) – intern Angelica Kalubiaka
- Marilène Gill, Manicouagan (BQ) – intern Élizabeth Bergeron
- Lori Idlout, Nunavut (NDP) – intern Rayna Sutherland
- Mike Lake, Edmonton-Wetaskiwin (CPC) – intern Annyse Hawkins
- Greg McLean, Calgary Centre (CPC) – intern Wynn Rederburg
- Blake Richards, Banff-Airdrie (CPC) – intern Anne Campbell
During their second allocation period (March 14 – June 17, 2022), the allocations are:
- Gary Anandasanagree, Scarborough—Rouge Park (LIB) – intern Rayna Sutherland
- Stéphane Bergeron, Montarville (BQ) – intern Jonathan Ferguson
- James Bezan, Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman (CPC) – intern Charles Bernard
- Larry Brock, Brantford-Brant (CPC) – intern Harriet Crossfield
- Julie Dabrusin, Toronto-Danforth (LIB) – intern Élizabeth Bergeron
- Pam Damoff, Oakville North-Burlington (LIB) – intern Anne Campbell
- Mathew Green, Hamilton Centre (NDP) – intern Ryan Jamula
- Melissa Lantsman, Thornhill (CPC) – intern Angelica Kalubiaka
- Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Hochelaga (LIB) – intern Wynn Rederburg
- Randeep Sarai, Surrey Centre (LIB) – intern Annyse Hawkins
“The Parliamentary Internship Programme is an exceptional program that offers a work-study experience for university graduates while at the same time providing Members of Parliament with the highest qualified assistants. These non-partisan interns participate fully in the parliamentary process and contribute to our Canadian democracy. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with many of the interns during my time as a Member of Parliament and cannot stress how valuable an asset this program is to Members’ offices.”
“The Parliamentary Internship Programme is a truly extraordinary initiative. I do not know who benefits more, the MP or intern; the interns experience a truly unique opportunity, while the MPs have the privilege of working with young men and women who will make a real contribution to their work. I have had the good fortune to work with many Parliamentary Interns over the past few years and I sincerely believe that this is one of the most positive experiences for me and my team. We have stayed in contact with the interns after their departure and it is always interesting to support them and follow their careers. I strongly recommend the program.”
“As a former Parliamentary Internship Programme intern from the class of 1994-95, I am personally familiar with the benefits and opportunities that this program gives young Canadians while working for Members of Parliament here in Ottawa. I have long been a supporter of PIP and since being elected in 2015, I’ve had the benefit of having 2 PIP interns work in my office. Both interns provided me with invaluable, professional and unmatched non-partisan research, writing and office support. The quality of the candidates who become PIP interns, selected through a highly competitive national process, means that only the “cream of the crop” are selected. This is evidenced by the work I’ve seen them perform in my office but also in the research projects they undertake and that I have been happy to support and promote. PIP was essential to my education and training, and allowing me to get where I am today and I would encourage all MPs to participate in this program and would encourage all young Canadians with an interest in Government to apply.”