Only 22 of 961 interns ended up being hired by the federal government

Parliament Hill in Ottawa File Photo: Tina Wallace/The Fulcrum

2.3 per cent is a small number, but that is the percentage of students who have done internships and co-op placements with the federal government since 2008, who went on to be hired by the feds.

According to an article in the Canadian Press, it was New Democratic Party Member of Parliament Laurin Liu, who requested the information that of the 961 unpaid interns and co-op placements carried out under the post-secondary co-operative education and internship program only 22 individuals went on to become federal government employees.

The findings support Liu’s decision last November to introduce Bill C-636 An Act to Amend the Canadian Labour Code (unpaid training). As Liu explained to the House of Commons on Nov. 25, this decision was reached after consulting with experts and stakeholders including the family of Andy Ferguson, a student in Alberta who died in a car accident while driving after working a morning then an overnight shift at his placement.

“Basically, this Bill would ensure that paid positions cannot be turned into unpaid internships,” said Liu. “This Bill will also offer basic protections for unpaid interns, such as protection against sexual harassment, protection of hours of work and protection against dangerous work.”

Liu later clarified that Bill C-636 is needed to fill the legislation gap for interns who work in the federal jurisdiction areas of transportation, telecommunications and banks.

MP Cathy McLeod, parliamentary secretary to the minister of labour and for western economic diversification stated in Parliament on Dec. 1, that “an efficient labour market includes workers of different ages. We need our young people. That is why we are studying the issues faced by interns and young workers.”