It’s work that Noah Richardson jokes he wasn’t physically prepared to do.
But, as a page in the House of Commons, he’s quickly getting whipped into shape.
“When people think of pages, they think of those kids they see on CPAC sitting. We are up... during Question Period, every two to three minutes. We are moving through the halls and gathering documents and delivering things,” said the Summerside native. “I wasn’t quite prepared for all the physical movement, especially in uniform.”
Richardson, who graduated from Three Oaks Senior High School in the spring, is one of 40 pages in the House of Commons and the only one from Prince Edward Island.
For the avid political watcher who, since childhood, has had a love of the inner workings of government, the job is a dream.
“I am particularly passionate about politics and politics at the federal level,” said Richardson, a first-year student at Carleton University in Ottawa. “When I found out that I would be able to go to Carleton, and that was a dream to be able to realize, I decided to look into the page program.”
It was a lengthy process.
Richardson applied to the House of Commons Page Program in December. There were essays to write, references to obtain, interviews in his second language, French, and more interviews before finding out in May he was accepted.
“I just thought what an opportunity to be able to get up front and personal with all 308 MPs, with the Speaker, with the media,” said he added. “For me, especially, with aspirations to be a political journalist, I wanted to work in an environment where I would be able to see the people work and see how they go about their job.”
It late August Richardson entered a weeklong training session, learning the ins and outs of the job, proper protocol and procedures. There were mock sessions to put into practice what was learned.
Sept. 12 was the big day — the start of the fall session of the House of Commons.
Richardson had visited the House before. But this time walking into the place where this so much of this country’s history has been made, it was different.
“To be able to walk in as an employee was quite a surreal experience for me,” said the teen. “You walk in and you realize I am not just a tourist visiting, I work here. This is where I am going to be 15 hours a week, in this giant, amazing room where you see much of Canadian history in the making.”
But, he admitted, there is little time to let what is happening on the floor of the house, the debate and the questions and answers, sink in.
While in the chamber Richardson is constantly on the move, delivering documents from one MP to another or to a different area of the historical building.
“This is a very big building and over a thousand of people work in centre block. It’s a very, very busy environment and there is definitely a lot of running around,” he added. “I know I am up and down stairs all the time delivering things to Hansard and bringing things to various offices.”
His role, he summed up, is to be a non-partisan aid to all Members of Parliament.
“We deliver messages, we distribute documents, we liaison with offices.”
Pages not only work on the floor of the house but in what’s called the lobby where, on either side there government and opposition offices.
“We basically do any running around the members need.”
There are those moments when he’s able to catch his breath, sit at the foot of the Speaker’s chair and take in his surroundings.
“It is a surreal opportunity to be here, in the middle of the week for Question Period when the media are around and the prime minister is here, the leader of the Opposition is here and all the other party leaders and all the MPs are here,” said Richardson. “It is a really fascinating experience.
“For someone who is particularly interested in politics it is a dream come true.”
Richardson, himself, is somewhat a part of history. He is possibly the only Three Oaks graduate to be a page in the House of Commons and one of three graduates of the city high school in as many years to serve as a page on Parliament Hill.
Greg MacCormack and James Brown have served as pages in the Senate.
“They give me tips on dealing with members and protocol, procedural things,” said Richardson. “It’s so amazing that there are three students three years in a row that have gone to work in the House of Commons or the Senate. I am representing Summerside and P.E.I. and the Maritimes. It is phenomenal to be here. I am very proud of where I come from.”
Balancing the work and his first-year journalism studies is challenging. He, like the other pages, carries a reduce course load in order to fulfill the obligations of the job.
Richardson admitted being a page and seeing the inter workings of government has helped somewhat cement his future career goals.
One way or another, he wants to return to Parliament Hill.
“I definitely know that because I am in journalism that it is something I want to complete. I haven’t ruled out a political career yet. Maybe I will give a few years as a political journalist a try first.”
He added, “Every second I appreciate this job and I appreciate this opportunity. It’s surreal and I am just so pleased to be here.”
The recruitment campaign launch for the 2015-2016 House of Commons Page Program began Oct. 1. Application deadline is Dec. 8.
To apply and find out more about the House of Commons Page Program and its admission requirements, candidates can visit www.parl.gc.ca/hocpage and follow the program on Facebook — Facebook.com/hocpagescdc.
nmacphee@journalpioneer.com
