Orientation, iPads and training with their spouses and partners. That’s how freshly-elected parliamentarians are preparing for the resumption of Parliament on Dec. 3.
More than 200 new MPs were elected in the last federal election, and many attended orientation and training sessions last week to help prepare them for their new jobs on the Hill.
Mark Bosc, the acting clerk of the House of Commons, helps run the orientation program for new MPs. He said that, from the moment the new MPs are elected, they're paired up with a liaison officer to help them with the transition.
Bosc told CTV's Canada AM that new MPs often face a quick turnaround, which can be "overwhelming," especially those with little prior experience in politics. He typically advises new MPs to focus on one area, be it constituency work or committee work.
"There's so much information, so many responsibilities that they must take on, that we really do advise them to find a focus," he said. "Don't try and do it all, and find some balance."
To help with the transition, the MPs have received an iPad this year containing a package of material dubbed the "Day One package," Bosc said. This package contains orientation material that would normally be printed on paper and bound in a binder.
But this year, the decision was made to switch to an electronic version to allow for easier access, he said.
"We have to move with the times, this is a technology that most people are familiar with and that we find works well with the new members," he said.
And because the job of a parliamentarian can be a round-the-clock profession, Bosc said the spouses and partners of the MPs were invited to attend a special session where they discussed how to juggle job requirements and family life.
"It's important for the spouses to be fully aware of what they're getting into, and talk to each other and find an appropriate balance for how the job impacts the family," he said.
