The interns had the pleasure of meeting with our esteemed partner, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), and gaining insight into the organization’s important work across Ontario’s postsecondary sector.  OCUFA is the voice of more than 18,000 faculty members and academic librarians across the province. The organization works to promote high-quality postsecondary education while advocating for the rights and interests of academic staff.    Over

The OLIP interns were honoured to meet with R. J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories and MLA for Hay River North. Premier Simpson was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2015 during the 18th Assembly, later elected to the 20th Assembly, and on December 7th, 2023, chosen by his colleagues to serve as Premier. Prior to entering territorial politics, he worked with the Government of Canada and served on the board of the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre. Duri

During our visit to the Northwest Territories, the interns had the honour of meeting with Speaker Shane Thompson and learning from his guidance on parliamentary proceedings.   We are grateful for having had the opportunity to join him for a generous lunch and discuss firsthand his experiences in public service and the important responsibilities of serving as Speaker.     Speaker Thompson shared valuable insights into how the Speaker is elected in the NWT Legislature, as well

The OLIP interns had the amazing opportunity to meet with Yellowknife Mayor Ben Hendriksen during our study tour, where we had an engaging and wide-ranging discussion about some of the most pressing issues facing the city and the broader North.  Mayor Hendriksen shared valuable insights into the evolving political and economic landscape of the Arctic, noting a growing global shift in attention toward Arctic relations and a renewed interest from Ottawa in Northern Canada. Our

The OLIP interns were excited to visit Buffalo Airways during our Yellowknife study tour, where we had the pleasure of meeting Amy, who kindly guided us through the hangar and shared her knowledge of the airline’s operations.   Buffalo Airways is a Canadian airline based in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories that specializes in cargo, charter, and passenger flights serving remote communities across Northern Canada. The airline was founded in 1970 by bush pilot Joe McBry

The interns enjoyed the pleasure of meeting with our esteemed partner, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), and gaining insights into the organization’s cross-regional work. Over the course of our meeting with Carolyn Miller, Mark Tagliaferri, and Filomena Ferraro, we had the opportunity to discuss the operational core of the association, as well as its far-reaching impact across Ontario. OECTA plays an important role in supporting teachers across the p

The OLIP interns were delighted to meet with Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) and learn more about this new partner of the programme. We had the opportunity to speak with Jacqueline Dobson, Director of Government Affairs; Agata Stankiewicz, Senior Director of Government Relations; and Alex Wellstead, Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Novartis, a member company of IMC.  Over the course of our conversation, we discussed the role of industry within Canada’s

Navigating the snowcapped streets of Toronto, the interns were delighted to visit the headquarters of our esteemed Partner, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), and share a fruitful conversation over lunch with OLIP Alumni, Chris Morley, Vice President of Government Relations, and Ann DeRabbie, Vice President of Corporate Communications.   Established in 1962, OMERS is one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pensions plans, providing secure, lifetime ret

I had the pleasure of undertaking my Government placement with MPP Michelle Cooper. In my four months in MPP Cooper’s office, I had the opportunity to work on legislation, speechwriting, and constituency issues. I had the wonderful opportunity to support MPP Cooper’s preparations leading up to the announcement of her Private Member’s Motion in December. The motion, seeking to tackle hate crime in Ontario, allowed me to gain insight into the real processes that go into making

This fall, I had the opportunity to work with MPP Chris Glover, the NDP representative for the great riding of Spadina-Fort York, and Critic for for Democratic Reform, Technology, and Sport. Chris has been an MPP since 2018, but before then, he was largely involved in community affairs in his hometown of Oshawa and Toronto, ranging from serving as a TDSB Trustee to teaching at local high schools and universities, and organizing community movements. He’s studied extensively in

My first placement was with Government MPP Deepak Anand, representing Mississauga-Malton. During my time with Mr. Anand, I was given the opportunity to involve myself in a variety of legislative matters. I assisted the office in preparing member's statements and remarks on bills. In doing so, I gained insight into the issues shaping Ontario today, including the need for long-term, sustainable energy, coordination of service delivery between the provincial and municipal govern

Over the course of this winter, I had the privilege of completing my first legislative placement with Dr. Adil Shamji, Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley East, Chief Whip for the Liberal Party, as well as the Critic for Housing; Indigenous Affairs; and Primary Care, Urgent Care, and Public Health. Prior to entering the political sphere, Dr. Shamji specialized in family medicine and worked as an emergency physician across Northern Ontario, the Northwest Territories

For my government placement, I had the privilege of working in the office of MPP Monica Ciriello, Member for Hamilton Mountain and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of the Attorney General. MPP Ciriello brings extensive experience in law and municipal public service to her role, and her work reflects a strong commitment to justice policy and to the constituents she serves. At Queen’s Park, I was immersed in the day-to-day work of a fast-paced legislative office. I suppo

For my Government placement, I had the distinct privilege of serving in the office of MPP Ernie Hardeman, who represents Oxford for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. Oxford — home to Woodstock, the "Friendly City" and Canada's dairy capital, along with Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, Norwich, Zorra, East Zorra–Tavistock, South-West Oxford, and Blandford-Blenheim — is a remarkably vibrant and picturesque county. Highway 401 cuts cleanly through its centre, carving out an

For my opposition placement, I had the privilege of working in the office of MPP Jamie West. As the representative for Sudbury, MPP West is the NDP Critic for Labour, as well as the Critic for Energy and Mines. MPP West also serves as the Deputy Whip for the Official Opposition. Elected in 2018, MPP West has an extensive background in the fields of mental health, construction, mining, and workplace safety. A member of USW Local 6500, MPP West has experience in labour relation

This fall, I had the privilege of working with Tyler Watt, MPP for Nepean and member of the Ontario Liberal Party. Elected in 2025, MPP Watt quickly established himself as a strong advocate for healthcare and education. He serves as the critic for Long-Term Care, Colleges and Universities, and as second Vice-Chair on the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure, and Cultural Policy. His commitment to public service is deeply rooted in his professional background. Having

For my government placement, I had the distinct pleasure of working with MPP Laura Smith of Thornhill. MPP Smith is the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as well as the First Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, and is a Member of the Standing Committee on Government Agencies. One of the most valuable aspects of working with MPP Smith was observing her deep engagement within the Thornhill community and h

This past fall, I had the absolute pleasure of working with MPP Doly Begum, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough Southwest. MPP Begum serves as the Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition and the Shadow Minister for Public Transit with responsibility for Equity and Anti-Racism. She also holds the role of Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs at Queen’s Park. Throughout my placement, I gained meaningful exposure to the breadth of

The interns were grateful for the opportunity to meet with Benjamin Murray of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA), an esteemed Partner of OLIP. As an umbrella organization representing commercial fruit and vegetable growers across Ontario, OFVGA advocates on behalf of a wide range of commodity groups, including apple and grape growers, on key policy issues affecting the sector.  During the meeting, we learned about OFVGA’s government relations work, w

The interns were deeply appreciative of the opportunity to meet with our Partner, the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC), and discuss the development and implementation of Ontario-produced isotopes across the country.   For over fifty years, Canada has been a world leader in the realm of radiopharmaceuticals. Our conversation with CNIC allowed us to trace the organization’s foundation in 2018, as well as explore its mandate to further Canada’s system of medical isotope p