News Releases

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 27, 2013) - BMO Financial Group is renewing its commitment as lead sponsor of the House of Commons Parliamentary Internship Programme, one of the most important legislative training programs in the country.

BMO has been a long-time supporter of the Programme and became the lead corporate sponsor in 1999. The bank will make a financial contribution of $250,000 over the next five years.

Established in 1970 by the Canadian Political Science Association, the Programme funds a minimum of ten interns who have the opportunity to supplement their theoretical knowledge of the workings of Parliament with practical experience of the day-to-day work of Members of Parliament. Interns are selected through a competition process open to all Canadian citizens who hold at least one university degree. During their year in the Programme, interns spend one term working with a government MP, and one term with an opposition MP. They receive a stipend of $22,000.

Since the Programme began more than 40 years ago, 430 interns have participated, including such distinguished Canadians as:

• Beth Acheson, founder, Women's Legal Education and Action Fund
• Peter Harder, Senior Policy Advisor, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Brian Lennox, former Chief Justice, Ontario Court of Justice
• Don Murray, former Foreign Correspondent, CBC News
• Jeffrey Simpson, National Affairs Columnist, The Globe and Mail
• Judy Wasylycia-Leis, former MP, Winnipeg North

"I was privileged and lucky to be selected as a Parliamentary Intern eons ago," said Jeffrey Simpson, National Affairs Columnist, The Globe and Mail. "That year, 1972-1973, taught me as much about how Parliament works, or doesn't, than almost four subsequent decades in journalism. The internship is a great investment in young people and their knowledge about government and public affairs."

"BMO Financial Group is extremely pleased to renew our longstanding association with the Parliamentary Internship Programme," said Hon. Ed Lumley, Vice Chair, BMO Capital Markets and a former Member of Parliament and cabinet minister. "Giving young Canadians a direct involvement in the parliamentary process enriches both their lives and our system of government."

The sponsorship will be announced at the Programme's annual dinner to be held in Ottawa this evening, which will honour renowned businessman and public servant Derek Burney, OC. "Derek Burney has made a significant contribution to the strength of our country, in both the public and private sectors," noted Mr. Lumley. "He sets a fine example of the kind of career to which our Parliamentary Interns can aspire."

BMO's sponsorship of the Parliamentary Internship Programme represents a key component of its commitment to supporting the democratic process in Canada, which features associations with other key organizations such as the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians.

Current interns and their two MP allocations for 2012/2013:

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $542 billion as at January 31, 2013, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.