Am I re-re-re-re-repeating myself?

Just in case you missed my formal introduction as a PEYge in the Legislature today...

HERE IT IS!

In fact, here is your chance to see all of my Page teammates! We're a good looking team, if I do say so myself! What's better is we all really want to work hard and do our best! Oh, and have some fun too! :D





Oh yeah! This happened today, too....

!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

Today was a most excellently awesome day! This PEYge just can't wait to go back tomorrow! 

-- PeyThePEYge

Bills, Bills, Everywhere Bills!

In the Legislature a Bill can actually mean a couple of things. Bill might refer to: 

Bill Mauro, Liberal MPP from Thunder Bay Atikokan 

Bill Walker, PC MPP from Bruce-Grey - Owen Sound

But most likely, it is referring to this kind of bill: 

BILL: an idea written in legal language that is presented by an MPP as an idea to become a law or to change an existing law. 

QUICK TIP: There are 3 main kinds of bills that can be presented:

1. Government Bill This is a Bill that is introduced by a Cabinet Minister (one of the Honourables, like the Minister of Education for example) 

2. Private Members' Public BillsThis is a Bill that is introduced by an MPP who isn't a Cabinet Minister

3. Committee Bills 

This is a Bill that is introduced by the Chairs of some of the Committees

There is a period of time in the afternoon where MPPs get 

to state that they have a bill to present. They read the title of the bill and it gets delivered to the Speaker who reads it, then finally to one of the clerks who then reads the name of the bill again.  

Guess what? 

Today, this PEYge picked up a Bill after it was introduced by MPP Bob Bailey from Sarnia Lambton!!!!

 This means I stood next (and slightly behind) MPP Bailey while he read the title of the Bill, and then I delivered the Bill to the Speaker. Every time a Page delivers something to the Speaker, we have to make sure it is delivered in a way that it is right side up so he can read it right away without having to turn it around. I then had to wait while he read the Bill out loud, take it from him and bow (a Page always bows when they are finished doing any kind of business with the Speaker) and delivered it finally to the clerk (this time, it was Tonia Grannum - Clerk of Procedural Services). 

So an idea that I carried in my hands to the Speaker and the Clerk may one day end up being a law! Isn't that exciting? 

The other exciting part of today is, of course, that I was FORMALLY INTRODUCED by the Speaker. This made everything feel really official. When he called my name, I stepped forward, smiled and bowed and stepped back into line with my Page teammates. It was pretty exciting. 

When the Assembly took a quick break, MPP Clark (the MPP from my riding of Leeds Grenville) came over to say hello to me and talk for a few minutes. It was really nice of him to do that. It's amazing how friendly a lot of the MPPs are towards the Pages. Sometimes it's easy to forget that MPPs are actually people too! :D Mr. Clark also introduced me to Mr. Hudak who is the Leader of the PC party. 

Oh, I almost forgot! I have special chamber duties during my term. On Mondays and Tuesdays I am responsible (with another Page) for making sure the Clerks all have water at their desks before the House sits. On Wednesdays and Thursdays I'm responsible for getting Mr. Hudak's books which are the books that he puts on his desk because he likes to have something elevated to put his papers on. 

I like having these special duties!

So all in all, my second day was great. I'd say even better than my first day! And that's saying a lot because I ended my day with math today! :D A good PEYge has to stay on top of her schoolwork! :D

---PeyThePEYge

First Day

First day on the job. 

My morning commute is WAYYYYY different than at home!!!!

At home, when I'm going to school, I just walk to my bus stop at the corner and take the school bus. 

Here, I'm living on the 25th floor of an apartment building. I have to take an elevator every day! It's such a different way to start my day! You never know who you'll meet on the elevator (or WHAT you will meet. Lots of people bring their dogs on the elevator and yesterday there was actually a CAT walking with its owner that came into the elevator!) 

Lobby, please! 

It takes about 20 minutes to walk to Queen's Park. We walk down the busy city streets but then cross into Queen's Park which is nice because there are trees and flowers and even a fountain and squirrels! 

When I get to The Legislative Assembly Building, I go in this side door because it is closest to the Page Quarters. I use my special ID badge to get inside.

MY SPECIAL PEYge ID! This gives me access to the doors and to the Page Quarters. I have to carry it  with me all of the time. 

My PEYge ID! 

This is the tunnel I walk through to get to the Page Quarters. I love the brick walls! So cool!

And this is me outside the Page Quarters door. In I go! Wish me luck! :D 

---PeyThePEYge

Introducing PeyThePEYge

I see you with your raised eyebrow. Haven't we done an introduction already? Don't I already know you, PEYge? 

Yes, yes you do. 

BUT this introduction isn't for you....

It's for ME

Tomorrow morning I will be formally introduced BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE (Honourable Dave Levac, from Brant) on the floor of the Chamber. 

There are a couple of cool things about that. 

The first is that being introduced in the Chamber makes everything feel sort of official. 

The second is, every word that is spoken is recorded for all of HISTORY forever and ever and ever in Hansard so when the Speaker introduces me it will go down in the History books (just like RUDOLPH the RED NOSED REINDEER!!!!) 

But the very best is that you can see it all LIVE right here.....

ON THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO WEBSITE

You can see it happen at around 10:30 tomorrow morning or I think you can watch an archived version of it up to 8 days after it happens. OR watch it again and again and again after the first time because you just can't get enough of seeing ME on TV!!!!! :D 

OR you can watch it live on your TV on the ONTLA channel. I don't have a link for that. You'll have to check your local TV guide. :) 

So, I would LOVE it if you would all watch me become a part of official Hansard history.

... for the second time. 

Oh... did I forget to mention that part? The part about MPP Steve Clark speaking about my sister and I on the very same floor of the very same Chamber two years ago? It is still so very neat to me that the next time my name will be spoken in that room it will be when I'm being introduced as a PEYge. 

Turning A New PEYge

I have some good, no GREAT, no SUPERB, no ASTOUNDING, no ASTONISHINGLY WONDERFUL news.....

I. MADE. IT. THROUGH. MY. FIRST. DAY. AS. A. PEYGE!!!!

And no, to all my friends who are reading this, I did NOT spill any water on any of the MPPs despite my very clumsy tendencies. :D

NOR did I trip, fall, sprawl in the hall or otherwise flatten myself like a pancake on the floor of the Chamber. 

I made it! 

And it was INCREDIBLE!

I had such a wonderful first day!

It started off really well with an early morning walk to Queen's Park. The city is actually kind of quiet in the early morning. 

When I arrived, I waited outside the Page Quarter doors for a few minutes saying goodbye to my parents. As I was standing there, a man walked over and said...

"New Page?"

I responded that, yes, I was a new page and that it was my first day. 

He smiled and welcomed me and we talked for a few minutes about being a Page. He was so nice! 

And it happened to be none other than.....

Mr. MPP Garfield Dunlop from Simcoe North. 

I just knew after having this positive experience with Mr. Dunlop that my day was going to be just fine! I immediately felt less nervous. 

After I changed into my uniform it was time for 

Morning Briefing

This is when we talk about any special duties for the day which can include: 

Water Station (where you're responsible for filling all MPP and Clerk glasses with water & ice)

East Lobby (opening doors for people, greeting people) 

West Lobby (same as East Lobby only on the west side ;) ) 

Pages who have special duties spend the morning and a portion of the afternoon at their station, but then join the other pages on the floor after 4:30 (when 1/2 of the page group goes to math class). 

Today we used some of our morning briefing time to review some of the MPPs so that we all feel prepared to greet them on the floor. We also talked about some interesting facts. Here's one for you...

Quick tip: The Honourable Mister Bradley, MPP from St. Catharines and Minister of Environment, was an MPP in the House when Honourable John Milloy (Kitchener Center, Minister of Government Services and Government House Leader) was a Page in the '70s! Now they're both Ministers together! Perhaps I'm serving as Page with an MPP who I will share the floor with when I become an MPP! Or Premier! :D 

After morning briefing, I was posted to the water station. This meant filling a never ending number of glasses with ice and water. There must've been a million glasses!!!! It was a little chaotic at times, but can you believe I didn't spill a drop! Once the glasses were filled, I passed them on to my page teammates who took them to the MPPs. 

We had a quick break for lunch in the page quarters. I had pasta with chicken! Yum! 

Then it was back to work! 

I spent some more time in the water station until it was time for Orders of The Day. 

This is when 1/2 of our page group goes to math class and the rest stays in the Chamber. This meant it was time for me to hit the floor! I felt a lot more confident than I thought I would and was able to walk right up to the Dias (where the Speaker sits) and take my seat. 

Orders of the Day is a time that's used for MPPs to debate about bills and handle any business that's been deferred. 

I sat at the Speaker's feet trying to remember to stand and sit when he did. I think our team did pretty well for our first day. We didn't need any signals or prompting, we all worked together and did it properly. I had an opportunity then to deliver some water to Hansard (the people who keep the records of everything that is said in the Chamber) and to some of the MPPs. 

We had a few breaks in the afternoon which gave us an opportunity to have a snack and relax a little before going back to the floor. 

I also was even able to take a delivery to the Hansard Office this afternoon! Going to the Hansard Office is the only time a Page is allowed to use the elevators (except when you go to the Whitney Block). Hansard office is on the 5th floor of the Main Building. It was a little tricky finding the elevators since I've only toured the building once (on Orientation day) but my Page partner and I found it and made it there and back quickly. While we were in the elevator on the way up to the 5th floor, we met MPP Jack MacLaren who is from Carleton - Mississippi Mills (a riding that is right near mine!). He rode in the elevator with us and we had the chance to talk to him. I can't get over how nice everyone at Queen's Park is. It makes working there so much easier and so much fun!

My shift today was supposed to be a late one, meaning I was supposed to stay in the Chamber until 6:00, however, during Orders of the Day, the MPPs were debating Bill number 55

Quick tip: Bill number 55 is about consumer protection (like helping protect our citizens from individuals who the MPPs called "fraudsters" come to your door saying they are from a company, so you sign a contract with them for a service that either doesn't exist or isn't a good deal and then there's nothing you can do about it). 

the debating had gone on for SOOOOOOO long that Minister of Consumer Services who presented the, the Honourable Tracey MacCharles (Pickering Scarborough East) asked that the debate about the Bill be deferred until tomorrow.

So we were dismissed early! 

The funny thing? I thought today would be long and nerve-wracking, but really it flew by! I was having so much fun doing my job and working with my teammates that the time passed without me even noticing. I really can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. 

--- PeyThePEYge

In Which The PEYge Gets MUSHY and You Feel The MUSH

MUSHY? Yes you heard me.

Most

Ultimately

Sincerely

Humble

Young PEYge

MUSHY.

Well, here I am! The big city of Toronto.  My mom and I are all moved into our new apartment and I’m getting ready to start my first day at Queen’s Park on Monday!

I can’t quite believe this is all happening. Part of it still feels like a dream to me.

I can’t believe how much hard work and time it has taken to get here. It feels good to be accomplishing my goal.

BUT

Something feels even more FANTANTABULOUSLY EXCELLENTLY OVERWHELMINGLY AWESOME and that something is …

ALL OF THE LOVE AND SUPPORT AND HELP I have gotten from my family, my friends, and my community.

Do you know how many people it has taken to get me here? Lots! Lots and LOTS and LOTS! I couldn’t have done it without SO many of you!

I have to start with my grandparents.

My Noni and my Boppa help me with a lot of things a lot of the time. It can be really handy to have grandparents who were teachers (especially when there is homework you don’t quite understand!!!). In fact, it was my Boppa who told me about the Page program so I wouldn’t even BE here without him! And my Noni, well she likes to help me shop so when it came time to buy the PERFECT shoes to wear while I’m here (fashionable AND comfortable, hello!!!!) she was with me!!!! My Noni and Boppa contributed for me be able to come here and they are being EXTRA helpful because they are staying with my sister while my parents were here getting me ready for my stay and while my daddy is at work. Anyone who has to look after my sister as a favour to me REALLY deserves a big thank you!!!!

My other grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa, actually live right next door to me at home which is neat because when I need something or want to spend time with them, I don’t have to go far to see them! When I was packing up and getting ready to come here, they were there to give me big hugs and wave goodbye!

I have the BEST grandparents!!!!

But you know what else I have?

The best NEIGHBOURS!

My favourite neighbour, Uncle Bruce, is so much fun and so nice! Thank you for your help, Uncle Bruce (and a BIG SUPER SQUISHY LOVE HUG TO CLAUDETTE! Hope you feel better soon, Claudette!!!!!)

My other neighbours are also awesome because they came over to my yard and bake sale when I was helping to raise some funds to cover my accommodations here. And talk about a win-win situation…. they helped me AND got to devour some pretty excellently delicious ginger cookies at the same time! :D

How can someone have SO MANY AWESOME PEOPLE IN THEIR LIFE? I don’t know. But I do!

My school is also awesome. Awesomely awesome!

Thank you to my teacher, Madame Paris, for helping with all of the paperwork that the Page Program needed to have from the school …. even though it means that now I have some extra homework to finish! :D

All of my teachers were actually really nice about getting together all of the information and materials that I needed to bring with me and they had to do it in a really short amount of time because I was only at school for 4 days before I came here!

My principal Mr. James had to sign some paperwork too that gave me permission to be out of the school for so long. 

You see how many people it takes to organize these things?

“But can there be more PEYge?” you are asking? Yes. Yes, there CAN be more and there IS more.

When some of the service groups in my community found out that I was going to be coming to Toronto for 5 weeks and that I would be responsible for my food, transportation and accommodation while I’m here, they were very generous and offered to help with some of the cost!

Thank you SO much to the Merrickville Legion, The Merrickville Lions Club AND the Merrickville Fire Department for helping me be able to make this dream come true.

You know what else was awesome? How excited all of my friends, family and neighbours were when they found out that I was accepted into the Program. Everyone’s support really means so much more than I could say…. and if you know me, you know I like to say a LOT so …  that’s really saying something! :D

To my family and my friends, to my school, my classmates, my neighbours, my community and really, my whole riding of Leeds Grenville, THANK YOU!

I couldn’t have done it without your help and I am so proud and honoured to be here representing you all in the Legislative Assembly.

Okay. That’s enough of the mush, right? Back to business! There’s no crying in the Legislative Assembly!

---PeyThePEYge

Labour Day!

We interrupt this blog for a very important message....

IT 

IS 

MY

BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

13 years old today!!!!!!

Can't believe I'm finally a teenager! 

You know what's superfantastically great? 

That I feel like going to Queen's Park on Monday is 

THE BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT I COULD GET! 

Quick Tip: This PEYge was born on a holiday called LABOUR DAY exactly 13 years ago today. It's funny because when you have a baby, they call it going into LABOUR. So my mom was in labour with me on labour day! :D 

It's my birthday! I'm a teenager! WooohoooO!

Now, back to regularly scheduled posting..... :D

--PeyThePEYge