Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 08/02) - It's a great opportunity Tasha Wasylkiw is glad to have.

Two months after completing a bachelor's degree in political science at the University of Lethbridge, she began a year-long internship as a policy adviser for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

For the current budget session, Wasylkiw moved from MACA offices to the political front lines - the legislative assembly.

"It's been great," Wasylkiw said. "I'm mostly doing research for MLAs, writing members' statements and oral questions. We also help out with public affairs events, like the youth parliament."

The youth parliament offers high school students from across the territory a chance to act as MLAs for their respective ridings for a week.

"(Speaker) Tony Whitford thought I was one of the 15-year-olds," said Wasylkiw with a laugh.

She is one of 53 graduates participating in this, the first year of the Northern Graduate Employment program. Interns are encouraged to look for permanent employment during their year with government. Three have since left their internships for full-time jobs.

"It's a stepping stone," Wasylkiw said of the internships.

While at the legislative assembly, she is being supervised by public affairs officer Pamela Colquhoun.

Colquhoun said interns aren't the only people to benefit from the program.

"I'm just really happy we could get them on loan for session, because as you know it's really, really busy," she said.

Wasylkiw plans to return to university to complete a masters degree specializing in international development, but is looking to work for a few years first to gain work experience and pay down her student loan.

Though unsure of her ultimate career goal at this time, Wasylkiw said she is leaning toward working for an international aid organization.