As we stepped into November, the interns had the distinct privilege of meeting The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario! Premier Ford welcomed us into his office and generously took the time to speak with us about his path into politics, the major issues facing Ontario today, and the many questions we brought with us. Our discussion touched on the province’s economic outlook, the principles that guide his work as Premier, and his priorities for the Ontario Progressive Con

In early October, the OLIP interns had the distinct honour of meeting the Right Honourable David Peterson, the 20th Premier of Ontario who served from 1985 to 1990. During our conversation, Mr. Peterson walked us through his career journey, sharing thoughtful insights about the experiences that shaped his path to becoming Premier. His story began in sales, followed by the founding of a wholesale electronics business, his election to London City Council, and eventually his ent

Between September 22 and October 17, I had the privilege of working with the Legislative Research Branch at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. This experience offered a unique perspective into the intersection of policy and politics, as well as the non-partisan role research plays in the democratic process. As a knowledge center in Queen’s Park, Legislative Research publishes publicly accessible Provincial Affairs Briefings (PABs), addresses confidential queries posed by Me

Over the past month, I have had the privilege of completing my Legislative Assembly placement with the Parliamentary Counsel Branch, alongside my wonderful colleague, Keana. Parliamentary Counsel plays a vital role in supporting the Legislative Assembly’s independence from the executive branch, providing expert legal advice and guidance to ensure that the Assembly can carry out its legislative and oversight functions in accordance with constitutional and parliamentary princip

For my Assembly Placement, I was lucky enough to be placed with the Table Research Office. While there, I worked with Clerk Tori Llewellyn (also an OLIP alumni), on several projects. My main focus was preparing a presentation on the typical Day in the House for my fellow Interns. For this project, I combed through the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the procedural rules for the House, to understand what happens on a day-to-day basis. To elaborate on th

For my Assembly Placement, I was incredibly lucky enough to be placed with the office of Parliamentary Counsel, alongside my fellow intern Bianca. Parliamentary Counsel is the legal office of the Assembly, representing them in legal matters and providing professional legal advice to the Assembly. While this doesn’t include advice on personal legal issues towards a Member as one may think, it does encompass many other things: drafting Private Member’s Bills, advising on consti

Last Friday, the OLIP interns were grateful to tour the Bruce Power nuclear site on the shores of Lake Huron in Tiverton, Ontario. We gained an insightful perspective into its operations, with the focus on safety, innovation, and community impressed upon us from the moment we arrived. Bruce Power generates 30% of Ontario’s electricity, providing one in three homes, hospitals, and businesses with clean, reliable power. Formed in 2001, it is 100% Canadian owned and employs over

As part of my placement with the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, I’ve had the privilege of working with the Legislative Protective Service (LPS), a division that plays a vital role in safeguarding the Assembly’s people, spaces, and democratic processes. While LPS is best known for its operational and security functions, I’ve had the unique opportunity to contribute to its policy development work, which is just as critical to its mission. One of my first assignments was helpi