Ottawa Jobs, Internships

Position: Parliamentary Internship for the Environment (PIE)
Organization: Environmental Leadership Canada
Location: Ottawa (Apply from anywhere in Canada)

***Please apply using the application form on our website. Applications sent directly to our email address will NOT be considered. Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.***

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP CANADA

Environmental Leadership Canada (ELC) is a Canadian educational charity that believes people need to know more about how politics works so they can make politics work for the health of our planet.

Through our educational programs, we aim to build a new generation of environmental leaders and to boost the capacity of everyday Canadians who care about the environment to engage in our democracy and hold elected officials accountable for their environmental commitments.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP

Now entering its eighth year, the Parliamentary Internship for the Environment (PIE) program offers outstanding young leaders, aged 18-30, the opportunity to work and learn alongside some of Canada’s most prominent environmental leaders in Parliament. Successful applicants to the program receive a ten-month, paid internship placement in the Parliament Hill office of a Member of Parliament (MP) or Senator with a proven record of environmental leadership and work. Reflecting ELC's commitment to nonpartisanship, host MPs come from every major national party.

Through PIE, interns gain a deep understanding of the day-to-day workings of Canadian Parliament. Through full-time office placements, interns become well-versed in legislative affairs, policy research, and constituency work while supporting current environmental change-makers of all political stripes. Most interns perform a variety of tasks in their offices. This could include writing briefing notes on matters before Parliamentary committees, communication with constituents, conducting research for Private Member’s bills, and supporting MPs in meetings with stakeholders.

Outside of the office, interns take part in a range of professional and leadership development activities, including site visits, training sessions, seminars, and fireside chats with expert speakers from the nonprofit sector, academia, industry, and government. PIE interns are also supported to run their own community engagement activities and workshops related to environment, politics and public participation. These activities serve as an important way that interns can start to carry the knowledge gained from the program back to their communities, enhancing local understanding of political systems and contributing to a more informed and engaged citizenry.

The Parliamentary Internship for the Environment program runs from September 2025 to June 2026. Interns receive a monthly stipend of $3,000, for a total of $30,000 over the 10 months of the program. Interns can expect to work full-time hours (37.5-40 hours) weekly. Most of this time will be spent in the Parliamentary host office, but there is also weekly ELC programming that includes intern check-ins, mentorship, seminars and workshops. In September, all interns will participate in an orientation program to get familiar with Parliament, the environmental policy landscape, and the rest of the cohort before placements begin.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

ELC values young leaders from all backgrounds and disciplines.

PIE is open to all candidates who, at the start date of the internship:

• Are between 18-30 years old as of September 1, 2025 and;
• Are available to work full-time from September 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
• Are legally eligible to work full-time hours in Canada for the duration of the program (e.g. Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, Refugee, Person with an open-work permit, etc.)

​We especially invite candidates who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of colour, a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and/or a person living with a disability to apply.

ELC recognizes that leadership takes many forms. We also recognize that many pathways exist to gaining the types of skills and competencies needed to be successful in this program, and that systemic barriers limit access to opportunities for many groups of people. For this reason, we have always invited applications from young leaders no matter their level or type of education and no matter their type of leadership experience.

Based on the nature of Parliament Hill and our role as a leadership development program, the following are some of the skills, experience and competencies we value, more than particular credentials, in the selection process:

• Demonstrated interest in the climate/environment
• Demonstrated interest in politics, the political process, policymaking or political advocacy at any level
• Exceptional written communication skills in English (proficiency in French is an asset, but not required)
• Strong oral communication skills in English
• Critical thinking skills
• Willingness to learn and engage with people from different backgrounds and different political viewpoints (open-mindedness)
• Curiosity
• Adaptability
• Initiative (“self-starter”)
• Time management skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Experience in conducting research and ability to effectively synthesize information
• Emotional intelligence (strong asset)

Note: As a program situated on Parliament Hill and run by a non-profit organization, we maintain a high standard for ethics and integrity. Successful applicants will be expected to comply with conflict of interest and anti-lobbying policies (among others). ELC also has policies in place to prevent individuals involved in governing our organization or funding this program from seeking political influence through the program.

For more details about the selection process and internship experience, including our approach to anti-oppressive practice, please refer to the FAQ on our website.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply using the application form on our website: https://www.environmentalleadership.ca/pie

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

If at any point you have any questions about the program, the application process, reasonable accommodations, or the application itself, please contact us at pie@environmentalleadership.ca prior to the deadline.

​APPLICATIONS ARE DUE APRIL 13TH, 2025.