2nd MPP Placement: Shakthi and MPP Steve Clark

This spring, I have had the honour of completing my second legislative placement with Government House Leader Steve Clark, Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier. Ahead of his career in provincial politics, MPP Clark served as the Youngest Mayor of Canada (1982), as well as the President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Chief Administrative Officer for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands.

During my time in the Office of the Government House Leader (GHLO), I was granted the privileged perspective of overseeing parliamentary procedures and protocols, and assisting with House proceedings. Over the course of my placement, I started mornings with issues management reports, observed Question Period prep, supported the Budget operations, and assisted the process of workshopping various cycles of MPPs' Private Member's Bills. Working in GHLO also granted exposure to different internal players, including Committee Advisors, with whom I explored different mechanisms as they related to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's standing committees. On a weekly basis, I joined a variety of processions, ranging collectively from Chamber legislative affairs to committee briefings, and altogether gained a nuanced understanding of the machinery of government.

Perhaps my largest project was leading the Girls Government of Upper Canada program visit to Queen's Park. Structured as a full-day tour, the program participants of MPP Clark's riding visited the heart of Toronto to experience the realm of provincial politics, wherein I had the opportunity to coordinate multi-party meetings among MPPs and Cabinet Ministers of the Progressive Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, and the Green Party. It was altogether an enriching endeavour that allowed me to capitalize upon the unique, non-partisan nature of OLIP, and maximize the trust and liberty it affords for the benefit of emerging professionals.

In late May, I also departed the metropolitan centre of the GTA to work in MPP Clark's constituency office, located in Southeastern Ontario. My tour of the region was a brilliantly engaging experience, as it is a riding rich in history and geography, with scenic views stretching from Ontario's border to the shores of Morristown, U.S. Furthermore, MPP Clark guided me through the Brockville Railway Tunnel, which was also the first railway tunnel constructed in Canada (est. 1860), and while discussing its history and MPP Clark's early years in the town, we navigated the century-old mineral deposits, limestone walls, and dripping groundwater-stone formations. During my time at the office, Michael Jiggins, MPP Clark, and I also drove to various quadrants of the riding, starting with Brockville and veering east to the Town of Prescott, north toward the Township of Augusta, and attended meetings in Kemptville, embedded in the Municipality of North Grenville. I greatly appreciated MPP Clark's willingness to engage me in discussions, including roundtable sessions with mayors and critical regional stakeholders. Concluding my time with the office, I had the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful cruise of the Thousand Islands, which granted views of the 1,000 Islands International Bridge, Zavikon Island, and Millionaire's Row.

MPP Clark's fascinating experiences, from municipal to provincial politics, and tenure as both a Minister and concurrent House Leader, offered intricate details that I greatly appreciated learning. Having worked in the "Hub of Queen's Park," so to speak, was an enlightening placement that I feel honoured to have been the recipient of. Concluding this piece, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to MPP Clark for continually supporting the programme with his mentorship. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the GHLO Team; Ravneet, Beth, Alexis, Dani, Abby, as well as Jonathan, for supporting my learning environment in this space. I am also deeply thankful to all the staff at the Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes Constituency Office for hosting me so kindly; Michael, Erin, Alicia, Jo, and Rocky. I will never forget the many lessons gained from my time with your team.

As I wrap up this recap, I truly feel equipped to continue a driven career in government and beyond!