Ontario Legislature Internship
Programme (OLIP)
The Ontario Legislature Internship Programme brings eight recent graduates to
Queen's Park every year to work with
backbench members of the Legislature. The non-partisan programme was
established in 1975 by the
Canadian Political Science
Association and The Legislative
Assembly of Ontario
The Ontario Legislature Internship Programme is
similar in nature and purpose to the Parliamentary Internship Programme for
the House of Commons of Canada, which was established by the Canadian
Political Association in 1969. Toward the end of 1975 discussions took place
between officers of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the executive of
the C.P.S.A. and agreement was reached that a similar internship programme, to
be administered by the C.P.S.A., would be established at Queen's Park. In
January 1976 a formal announcement of the new programme was issued jointly by
the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the President of the C.P.S.A. and
the first group of interns came to Queen's Park in September 1976.
The focus of the programme is upon the
Legislative Assembly as a vital institution of government and, more
particularly, upon the role of the backbench Member. Interns provide
assistance of various kinds to some of these Members. In this manner the
interns are able to supplement their academic training with valuable practical
experience. It is expected that they will become thoroughly familiar with the
procedures and conventions of the Legislature. At the same time it is hoped
that they will contribute in some measure to increasing public knowledge and
appreciation of the work of the Legislature. Those interns who return to
academic life are more likely to carry out research on legislative bodies and,
because of their experience, will be able to give students a better
understanding of the important role of the Legislative Assembly in the
provincial political system.
