News Releases

BMO Financial Group has renewed its commitment as lead sponsor of the House of Commons Parliamentary Internship Programme, one of the most important public policy and 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 has now renewed its commitment until 2008, and expanded its three-year financial contribution from $120,000 to $150,000.  The sponsorship will be announced at the Programme's annual dinner to be held in Ottawa this evening.

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.

The internship program not only helps support MPs in their current legislative work, it also equips graduates with the experience to make a significant contribution to Canadian public life in the future.  Interns are selected through a competition process open to all Canadian citizens who hold at least one university degree.

More than 300 interns have gone through the internship program since its inception, including current MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis; Don Murray, CBC Foreign Correspondent; Jeffrey Simpson, Globe and Mail columnist; and Peter Harder, Deputy Minister, Department of Foreign Affairs.   

“BMO Financial Group is extremely pleased to be associated with the Parliamentary Internship Programme,” said Ed Lumley, Vice Chair, BMO Nesbitt Burns 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.”  

"BMO Financial Group's contribution to the Programme over the years has been invaluable," said Jean-Pierre Gaboury, Director of the Parliamentary Internship Programme.  "We are thrilled that BMO has committed to renew its sponsorship."

“As a former intern and now a Member of Parliament who benefits from the contributions of interns in my office, I know how valuable this program is to Canada,” said Judy Wasylycia-Leis, MP for Winnipeg North.  “I congratulate BMO Financial Group for continued sponsorship.”

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization.  With total assets of $306 billion as at January 31, 2006, and more than 33,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.  BMO Financial Group serves clients across Canada through its Canadian retail arm, BMO Bank of Montreal, and through BMO Nesbitt Burns, one of Canada's leading full-service investment firms. 

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