Government Relations & External Affairs Intern

Who We Are:

Every transaction matters. Every Canadian matters. At Interac, we protect both - driving trust, security, and inclusion, so our digital economy thrives.

Founded in 1984, Interac connects Canadians through secure digital payments, advanced identity verification and industry-leading fraud protection. Connecting banks, businesses, and individuals, Interac enables millions to send, receive, and manage money safely and effortlessly every day - across both digital and physical environments.

As the backbone of Canada’s financial ecosystem, Interac facilitates over 20 million transactions daily, supported by trusted partnerships with government and financial institutions. Consistently ranked as Canada’s most reputable financial technology brand, Interac is deeply embedded in the daily lives of Canadians.

Who You Will Work With:

Reporting to the Specialist, Government Relations & External Affairs, you will join a small, collaborative team that helps Interac understand and respond to the public-policy, political and external environment in which it operates. You will work across government relations, policy and external affairs, with exposure to senior leaders and cross-functional partners.

This internship is designed for someone who follows Canadian government and current affairs, is curious about payments and fintech, and wants hands-on experience turning research into useful advice, briefing materials and stakeholder engagement. You will contribute to real files and recurring deliverables while receiving regular coaching and feedback.

What You Will Do:

• Monitor federal and provincial government activity, including announcements, legislation, parliamentary committees, consultations, regulatory developments and political changes relevant to Interac.
• Track payments, fintech, banking and digital-economy developments and summarize what they mean for the business and its stakeholders.
• Draft briefing notes, stakeholder profiles, meeting notes, executive updates, presentations, correspondence and other external-affairs materials.
• Maintain the GR & External Affairs tracker, stakeholder map and engagement records with a high standard of accuracy and organization.
• Support government meetings, roundtables, conferences and executive engagements, including research, invite lists, logistics, briefing packages and follow-up actions.
• Research priority policy files and consultations, synthesize information from multiple sources and help develop evidence-based positions and recommendations.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to confirm inputs, manage details and keep deliverables moving.
• Complete a term project on an emerging policy issue and present practical recommendations to the team.

What You Bring:

• Enrolled in a Canadian university in a relevant discipline such as political science, public policy, public administration, economics, international relations, law, business, communications or public relations.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian political and government institutions and demonstrated interest in current affairs, public policy, legislative and regulatory developments.
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills, including concise synthesis of complex information.
• Strong judgment, attention to detail and commitment to verifying facts, names, titles, dates and sources.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, meet deadlines and communicate early when direction or timelines need clarification.
• Professionalism and discretion with sensitive information and senior stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Teams.
• A proactive, curious and collaborative style, with confidence to ask thoughtful questions and own deliverables.

Although not required, you have some familiarity or previous experience with the following:

• Experience using government and parliamentary sources, regulatory publications, media-monitoring tools, research databases or project-management platforms.
• French-language skills.
• Familiarity with Canada’s payments ecosystem, financial-sector policy, consumer-driven banking, digital identity, fraud prevention, competition, affordability or digital sovereignty.
• Experience preparing briefing notes, stakeholder maps, policy summaries, presentations, executive communications, research databases or project-management platforms.
• Strong writing skills with the ability to craft compelling content for digital channels (e.g. website, newsroom, intranet, social media, email). 

What We’re Offering:

The hourly pay rate for this position is $25, and the internship term runs from January to April 2027. An internship opportunity at Interac also features: 

• Flexible hybrid work model with monthly intern socials for better work-life balance
• Convenient downtown Toronto office located minutes away from Union Station
• Interac learning bootcamp designed to help you hit the ground running

Why Join Us?

At Interac, the impact we make, and the people who drive it, is profound. When you become part of our team, you’re joining a purpose-driven organization that’s shaping the future of digital finance in Canada. Here’s what you can expect:

• Investing in the Future – Help us unlock digital prosperity for all Canadians.

• Innovative Thinking – Collaborate on products, practices, and platforms that redefine what’s possible.

• Inclusive Culture – Be empowered to bring your whole self to work and realize your full potential.

• Inspiring Community – Work in an ecosystem where we lift each other up and rise together.

• Intentional Support – Enjoy flexible, supportive offerings that prioritize your total wellness.

Additional Pre-Employment Requirements:

To ensure the integrity of our organization, successful candidates will be required to complete background checks, which may include, Canadian Criminal Credit Check, Canadian ID Cross-Check, Public Safety Verification, 5-year Employment Verification, Education Verification, Credit Check, and Social Media Check.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Interac is also an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that innovation thrives when people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together. That’s why we are committed to providing fair and equitable employment opportunities for all individuals, without discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, ethnic origin, place of origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital or family status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you require accommodation during any stage of the application or recruitment process, please contact us at humanresources@interac.ca. We will work with you to meet your needs.

Please be aware that certain individuals are misusing Interac Corp.’s name and logo to promote fictitious employment opportunities. Interac Corp. never requests, solicits, or accepts any form of payment in exchange for employment. Any such offers are fraudulent and should be disregarded. Interac Corp. assumes no liability for any claims, losses, damages, expenses, or inconveniences arising from or related to these fraudulent activities. Such communications do not constitute an offer or representation by Interac Corp. or its subsidiaries and affiliates.