End of year report – PIP – Valeriia Gusieva
As a parliamentary intern, I contributed to committee work through conducting research, preparing briefing notes, and analyzing materials before the committee, along with supporting various other tasks as required. I was able to draw on my previous knowledge of immigration policy and my experience working with newcomer communities. I also attended meetings with advocacy groups focused on human rights violations, among other issues, and was fortunate to attend various briefing events to learn about the needs of many communities across Canada. Both the Immigration and Human Rights committees have been busy, and undertook studies related to Canada’s immigration system, the state of democracy around the world, internally and externally displaced people, and the situation in Sudan, among other topics.
In the fall, I attended the XXVIII Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians, a historic gathering for our community. It was truly inspiring to see over 400 delegates from coast to coast to coast come together, united in their passion to advance Ukraine’s interests in Canada and to address the priorities of our community. A personal highlight for me was the opportunity to listen to and speak with Lieutenant-General (ret’d) The Honourable Roméo A. Dallaire. His work on the psychological impacts of war and the need to support Ukrainian veterans and their families deeply resonated with me.
The experiences I have gained over these 10 months have deepened my commitment to public service and to the Ukrainian Canadian community. This internship has given me a firsthand understanding of how policy is shaped and how advocacy translates into action on Parliament Hill. As my internship was coming to a close, I was offered the opportunity to remain in MP Zuberi’s office to continue serving Canadians. I look forward to what lies ahead, and I remain deeply grateful to the UCC Charitable and Educational Trust, and the Ukrainian Canadian community for their support.