There are many challenges that face the democratic system today in Canada and in many countries. One of the most basic is simply a lack of understanding of how the day-to-day system of governing works. Recently I attended a presentation that suggested that less than 5% of Canadians are truly engaged and following what is happening in provincial or federal politics. This is not a surprise as most Canadians are busy dealing with their own jobs and supporting their families and hardly have time to closely watch the happenings in Ottawa or their provincial legislatures.
This is particularly true for young people, who generally vote at a lesser rate than the population as a whole and who rarely engage with politics or politicians. Yet for the health of a democratic system, the engagement of young people in the political process is particularly important as they will make up future governments. But for many youth, it is difficult to know how to become engaged in the political process.
This was the case when I was a young person. I had a keen interest in world and political affairs but did not have family or other connections who had a background in elected life. Yet one afternoon in 1994 I noticed an information flyer on a billboard when I was on campus at the University of Manitoba. The flyer advertised the Manitoba Legislature Internship Program. This academic program offered the ability, if selected, to work in a Caucus at the Manitoba Legislature. While I didn’t believe my chances of being selected were good, I applied and after going through an interview process, I was hired as a Legislative Intern and assigned to work with the Progressive Conservative Caucus.
The work of Interns at the Manitoba Legislature is generally filled with hours of research and writing speeches. Often the hours are long, and the pay is modest. Yet, it provided me something I couldn’t have imagined, an opportunity to be on the inside of the Legislature interacting with lawmakers and supporting what was then the government of Premier Gary Filmon.
Without question, the Legislative Internship not only gave me the opportunity to better understand how our democratic system works, it opened the doors for me to one day be an elected representative within it.
Recently the Legislative Assembly celebrated the internship program by having a reunion and inviting the former interns from the last nearly 40 years to attend. I was honoured to be asked to address those in attendance and it was remarkable to see so many past interns who have gone on to make their impact in public policy, law, education and healthcare to name just a few. It was clear in speaking with many past interns that they not only valued their time at the Manitoba Legislature, they credit it for the success that they have been able to achieve since. And each said it provided them with a better understanding and appreciation of how the political system works.
The internship program in Manitoba is modelled after others in provinces across Canada and Ottawa. As well, there is a provincial page program (and one in Ottawa) that provides the opportunity for high school students to work occasionally in the Legislative Assembly. Pages assist members of the Assembly and staff by distributing tabled documents or delivering material between members and their offices.
Each of these programs is designed to allow young people to be part of the democratic process. While I eventually became an elected official, that is not the primary purpose of the Intern, Page or other programs. It is really to offer the opportunity to young people who would otherwise not have the chance to see the inside workings of democracy, to experience it. As someone who was once one of those young people, these programs are very important to me.
If you would like more information about any of these programs, you can find them on the Manitoba Legislative Assembly or House of Commons website.
