Ontario Public Service offers The Black Alliance Internship Program for Black Graduates

BY PAUL JUNOR

There have been many questions over the years about whether the Ontario Public Service (OPS) is able to be inclusive by attracting workers of varied backgrounds. According to the website: www.internship.gov.on.ca, they are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful, and equitable workplace.

In order to fulfil this mission, it has launched the Black Alliance Internship Program (BAIP). BAIP is a one-year paid internship program being piloted in 2022, that offers recent Black and Black bilingual (French-English) post-secondary graduates an opportunity to intern across a variety of professional positions with the OPS. In order to qualify for BAIP, eligible candidates must satisfy these requirements at the time of an employer offer:

• You self-identify as Black or Black bilingual (French-English)
• You have graduated or will complete the requirements to graduate between May 2017, and June 2022 from a recognized or legally authorized college, or university with either a: degree, a diploma, or a post-graduate certificate, which requires a previous degree or diploma
• You are legally entitled to work in Canada
• You must be living in the province of Ontario during the term of employment
• You are not currently an Ontario Internship Program (OIP) intern and have not been an OIP intern in the past

It is important that bilingual candidates demonstrate proficiency in oral and written French and English. This has to be shown before the time of hiring. Furthermore, it is indispensable that applicants check the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website to ensure that their programs are recognized.

For those who studied outside Canada, it is required that an assessment of their credentials be done to ensure that it matches with the comparative Canadian credentials. The Alliance of Credential Services of Canada (ACELSC) is able to provide an assessment of credentials that BAIP will accept. Furthermore, recognized or legally authorized post-secondary institutions must authenticate the candidates’ educational credentials whether it is an undergraduate or graduate degree, diploma or post-graduate certifications.

This initiative is indebted to Franco Noire, who as part of the Black Employee Network in the OPS was instrumental in ensuring that this collaborative partnership. Interviews will be conducted in July and August and conditional job offers will be made to accepted candidates whose eligibility is confirmed.

Placements will start on August 29^th, 2022. Applications are being accepted until July 6^th, 2022 at the following website: https://www.internship.gov.on.ca/mbs/sdb/intern.nsf/kpWebContent/ePublishedBAIP

Anyone interested can check the website: www.internship.gov.on.ca