Media review: Print.

                                       Official Report of Debates (Hansard)
                                        (Thursday December 11th 2014)




Main Idea:

    

     Hansard is the traditional name for the transcripts of Parliamentary Debates in Britain and other Commonwealth countries (including Canada). In Ontario, no official record of the debates was produced before 1944. The debates were recorded in newspapers. The provincial archives clipped and collected these reports in a series of scrapbooks until 1953. The provincial parliament prints the reports as well as posts them on the Parliamentary website, with records since April 21, 1981 to present sittings. Today the Hansard reporter sits at the back of the Chamber. This Particular Hansard was recorded on December 11^th 2014 (my last day as a page as well as the last day that the House sat before the winter break).

Summary:

The day that this debate was recorded (December 11^th 2014), energy policies, government accountability, infrastructure funding, air-rail link, coroner’s inquest, health care, public transit, water quality and Aboriginal programs and services were discussed during question period. This was followed by two votes and then introduction of visitors. During introduction of visitors, MPP’s introduce any guests that have come to watch the debates in the chamber. These guests can be anyone from the public or visiting officials. Often times the parents of pages will come see the action in the chamber. Since I was Page Captain on that particular day, my MPP, Yvan Baker introduced my brother and father that had come visit me in the Chamber. Next, Ministers would make statements on anything they wanted to share with the legislature, for example Ms. Peggy Sattler discussed the Mississauga Transitway, while Mr. Steve Clark discussed Christmas tree lighting. Later, motions on Sexual Violence and Harassment were discussed. Then, Ministers shared notable events and happenings going on in their Ministries. Finally, petitions from MPP’s riding were introduced. On December 11^th 2014, the House adjourned early. As it was the last day of serving for the pages and of course the MPP’s, many warm seasons greetings were exchanged between members and Legislative assistants, like pages.

Characters:

All of the Members of the Provincial Parliament, and Legislative assistance were involved. They all played some sort of a role during the debates in the chamber. For example: Hon. Dave Levac (Speaker), Deborah Deller (Clerk), Hon. Kathleen Wynn, Hon. Liz Sandals (Minister of Education), Andrea Horwath (Leader of the third party), Hon. Bob Chiarelli (Minister of Energy), etc.

Best Parts:

     Although all of the debates going on in the Chamber were extremely interesting (from what I did understand), I believe that the best parts were during Introduction of Guests when my brother and father were introduced, Question Period when all of the Members were quarrelling and finally, Petitions. When a member has a petition, he/she will stand up and a page will go and stand behind them. When the Member has finished reading the petition Legislature, they give it to the page and say “I will give this petition to page _____ to take down to the Clerks”. I really enjoyed reading the part of the Hansard record when Todd Smith said “I agree with this. I’ll send it to the table with page Maja”.

Worst Parts:

     As I really enjoyed reading over the record, I cannot really say that there were terrible parts. However, I could say that I disliked the use of large words used by the MPP’s, as I am a little too young to understand some of them. Other than that there is nothing that I would change (its not like it really can be changed).

Rating:

     Out of 10 I rate this print 10/10. Although some words were a bit more difficult to understand, I can only expand my vocabulary from hearing so many serious, word filled speeches and debates. On the other hand, what I did understand happened to be extremely interesting.