Legislative Page Program

Page Maja

       "ORDER!" 

First, I would like to start by saying that although my most common explanation of the program I was doing was "I deliver water, papers and messages to MPP's" or " I work as a butler at the Parliament”, I have come to the realization that the Legislative Page Program is much more than that! And: no, I did not go to the Parliament in Ottawa.  Along with 22 other grade 8 students I was chosen to serve for four weeks as a Page in our Provincial Parliament, Queen's Park.

The Pages have been an incredibly important part of Ontario's Parliament since the confederation. These early Pages were 10 to 14 years-old boys from poor families who, for salary, carried messages, ran errands, and fetched glasses of water for Members of Provincial Parliament. Since 1952 a teacher was hired to work with the Pages, and in 1971 first girls were appointed to serve. In the same year Speaker Fred Cass moved the Pages to Page Quarters: an office that included a miniature schoolroom, recreational area, lounge, and kitchen. He also established the practice of choosing Pages from across Ontario, and began the tradition of reading the Pages’ names into Hansard (traditional name of the records of the Parliamentary Debates), which created an official record of their service.

Nowadays serving in the Parliament is a privilege.  Each year, approximately 140 grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are selected to participate in the Legislative Page Program. When applying, you are required to have a minimum level 4 average, to write a 750 word essay on what you have done to deserve to serve as a Page, and have a recommendation letter from your Principal.

The best Page group ever:
FA14-2 NOV17-DEC11

 Legislative Pages experience the provincial legislature in action, meet key parliamentary and political figures, and learn first-hand about Ontario’s Parliament and legislative process.  My typical day during last month looked like this:

Each day, I would wake up at 5:30am get ready and take the subway down to Queen's Park at around 6:45am with another girl, Page Kelsey from Ottawa. We would get to the Parliament and our quarters through the tunnel between the subway station and the Queens Park around 7:30am. We would get into our uniforms which consisted of a white stiff-collared dress-shirt, a black vest and blazer, black pants, black socks, a black silver buckled belt, black jabots for girls and black ties for boys and finally, black dress shoes. At 8:15, we would have morning briefing. Basically in briefings we would discuss our schedule, check uniforms and ask any questions that we might have. After that we would go up to the Chamber, for our Chamber Duties.  

Page Captains with the
Sergeant-At-Arms and the Mace 

 The Procession on the last day before the House went on break

Most of the times at 9:00am "ORDER!" is called and the Sergeant-At-Arms with the Mace, the Speaker, the Clerks and the Page Captains enter the Chamber. The Speaker then reads a non-denominational prayer. This is followed by Orders Of The Day when laws and other government activities are discussed. At this time, half of the Pages go to Legislative Process class, while the other half stays in the Chamber. When Question Period is called, Members may ask other Members about any recent activity in their ridings and Ministries. Although this all sounds very complicated, once you get a hang of it, it is very entertaining to watch. The thing that worried me the most was how will I remember all the 107 Members, but after only a few days I new them all including the ridings they are representing. I also learned about all the Ministers and the Ministries they are responsible for.

Our classroom in the Page Quarters

Our Rec room

After lunch, we have our Afternoon Briefing, followed again by Chamber Duties. Then, Routine Proceedings - at this time, most drafts of laws are presented. Next, Orders Of The Day is called again. Half of the group goes to math class until 4:30 (first dismissal), while the other half stays in the Chamber until 6:00 (second dismissal). To make things even more exciting, Ms. Tedford, our Page Teacher organized for us to meet with all the party leaders, the Clerks, the Speaker, the Hon. Lieutenant Governor, the Sergeant-At-Arms and even the Premier! Each Page also got the opportunity to have a one-on-one lunch with their MPP.

In the office of the

 Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

 Deborah Deller 

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario 

Elizabeth Dowdeswell

Meeting the leader of NDP
 Andrea Horvath

                                     

With the Speaker Hon. Dave Levac

With our Premier Hon.Kathleen Wynne

Although the whole thing flew by extremely fast, I must admit that the first week was the hardest…When I found out what had happened to my best friend, everything just slowed down for me. She was constantly in my thoughts! I walked to the hospital and visited Olga almost every day. Olga is much, much better now, yet we still NEED to keep thinking of her and visiting her, as she is going through an incredibly difficult time right now!

HAPPY: my first visit after Olga woke up

The past four weeks were the best in my life! I made lifelong friendships and I am sure we are going to remain in contact throughout our lives! All of the MPPs, Clerks, the Speaker, the Sergeant-At-Arms and the constables were just so nice and supportive of us, Pages! And yes, as it is a paid service, I have made $15 a day!! I have decided that there are others that need the money more then I do, so half of what I earned I have donated to S.O.S. Children’s Village, an orphanage in Serbia and the other half I happily gave to Complex Care Clinic of SickKids (As you know I am a singer. Our holiday concert this year is being used as a fundraiser for the Complex Care Clinic at SickKids, and so far I have raised over $1000!)

Ripley's Aquarium: first Friday field trip!!