The 2023 Program begins on Monday, May 1st and concludes on Friday, August 18th. The internship is 4 months in length. This is a full-time position; you must be available to start on May 1st and be available for the entire duration of the program based on the selection of your placement. Successful candidates will receive a letter of offer from the individual office hiring them. The duration of your placement will be provided to you in your letter of offer.

Internship placements in the Summer Leadership Program are highly competitive. We take the time to review and evaluate each and every application in order to choose from many highly qualified candidates and ensure the best internship experience for all selected participants. We do our best to notify all applicants in a timely fashion of their application status in the program. Due to a highly competitive selection process, placements can be made up until the start of the program on May 1st, 2023. If you are selected during this process, you will be contacted for an interview. Only successful candidates will be contacted. We wish you the best of luck with your application!

Yes. This is a full-time, paid position.

SLP 2023 will be administered as a hybrid internship experience (virtual and in-person), providing maximum flexibility to suit each office’s needs. 

A virtual internship (sometimes called a remote internship) is exactly as it sounds – it’s a remote work experience with an employer but the work is done virtually and remotely rather than in-person. It’s just like a regular internship experience, except you gain experience while working remotely, rather than being physically present in-person in the office.

Participants asked to work from home will be working remotely and have a supervisor that you report to. You will be in regular contact with your supervisor/team via virtual methods such as video call, phone call, email and instant messenger.

Participants asked to work in person may be asked to work at their MP/Minister’s office in their riding or their office in Ottawa. Be sure to clarify this with your supervisor and arrange travel and accommodations to be ready to start working in your office after our week of virtual training, on May 8, 2023.

We have a multifaceted application process to get to know you as a candidate. As part of the application process, you will be required to submit your updated resume and two references as well as let us know about your top skills and any volunteer, professional and political experience that you may have. We are committed to selecting a diverse cohort of participants that is representative of our open and inclusive society.

We ask that you submit your permanent home address. That is your family home or permanent place of residence where you will be staying and working from over the summer. 

For example: if you are from Calgary and you attend school in Saskatoon but you would be returning home for the summer, your permanent address is in Calgary.

We are looking for young leaders from coast to coast to coast to become the next generation of leaders with our Liberal government. If you are a politically engaged youth who is involved in your local riding or community and eligible to work in Canada, apply to join our team for the summer!

To be eligible for the Summer Leadership Program, all applicants must be residing in Canada with a valid Canadian address and be able to work full-time in Canada. International students and residents who live and study in Canada and have a valid work permit with the ability to work full-time in Canada can apply for the Summer Leadership Program.

It is the responsibility of each individual to ensure they have a valid work permit prior to the commencement of the Summer Leadership Program that allows them to work full-time hours.

No! We are looking for young Canadians with diverse backgrounds and experiences – that includes your education! You must, however, be able to start the Program full-time as of May 1, 2023.

It may be possible to get academic credit for your internship, but not from the Liberal Research Bureau, Parliament of Canada, or Government of Canada.

Only academic departments can offer credit, and policies differ from one department to the next. Often your internship must relate directly to your major area of study, which this internship may or may not do.

If you are seeking to obtain an academic credit from your SLP internship, we urge you to obtain approval from your academic institution prior to submitting your application.

Last year, most Summer Leadership Program participants were between 18 and 26-years-old. We encourage any and all talented future leaders to apply to the Summer Leadership Program. All applications will be reviewed, as long as a potential applicant is able to start the Program full-time as of May 1, 2023.

Yes! The Summer Leadership Program is extremely competitive, so we encourage you to re-apply if you weren’t successful last year. We would advise you to highlight your volunteer contributions, political experiences and accomplishments you have achieved since you last applied.

There are many people in your life who would be valuable references to include with your application. References should be individuals who can speak positively about your skills and achievements. Your references can include, but are not limited to: current and/or past employers, managers, co-workers, leaders of non-partisan, volunteer, or non-profit organizations, professors, and/or Members of Parliament. Your references are not required to provide a letter; however, all references will be checked. Ensure that you include current contact information for each of your references.

Typically, you should provide 2 references with your resume. Your references should be people who will speak positively about your work.

Each SLP placement carries a variety of responsibilities, which could include researching, writing, attending, and reporting on Parliamentary and Government proceedings. Furthermore, SLP Participants may be responsible for general administration tasks, database management, reviewing and responding to correspondence, coordinating and attending meetings and note taking, engaging with various community groups, stakeholders, and Members of Parliament and much more. We are committed to providing SLP Participants with a meaningful learning experience where they will be able to learn, grow and connect online with other emerging young leaders who are passionate about promoting the Liberal government’s plan, values and principles.

In a virtual internship setting, typically communication with your supervisor/team will be through various means of communication technology including emails, video calls, phone conversations, instant messaging or text messaging. Participants should actively seek advice and feedback in their work and are encouraged to ask questions, while regularly checking in with their supervisor/team.

The Summer Leadership Program is a comprehensive and intensive experience. Participants will be placed in full-time positions working remotely or in-person, depending on your local public health guidelines. In addition to this, Program participants can expect frequent training sessions and workshops, events with guest speakers, and networking opportunities. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with each other virtually via a private online forum.

Whether in-person or virtually, the best way to get the most out of an internship is to be completely engaged in all Program activities. All Program participants are expected to be in attendance for all official SLP events. Training events may be held outside of work hours to best accommodate the requirements of the office you are working with and your learning experience.

Participants are expected to attend all official events as a part of the Summer Leadership Program. This includes all training and workshops, guest speakers, and networking opportunities. Our Program Coordinator’s put a lot of effort into planning Program curriculum and it is expected that all Participants will be respectful and maintain professionalism by attending scheduled programming.

While we strive to have fun and make the Summer Leadership Program enjoyable, a level of decorum and professionalism is expected. Your participation in the Program may be terminated due to performance issues and if you do not meet the expected standards and code of conduct outlined by the Program Coordinators and your supervisor.

If there is an opportunity to work in-office in Ottawa or the Member’s riding, and if travel is required for this purpose, it is the responsibility of the participant to find, book, and finance their own travel and accommodations for the duration of their stay.

You can reach the Summer Leadership Program team at slple.info@infolib.ca. Please note that while we strive to answer all questions, we receive a large volume of emails. As required, we will be updating the FAQ section of this website to reflect new frequently asked questions that come in. Please review this section completely.