Today I was a student at the school of MLA.

Our teacher – Charles MacKay, Clerk.
Our teacher’s assistant – Marion Johnston, Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees.

It’s hard to encapsulate a whole day of MLA school and give it the justice it deserves. The day included tours of the Confederation Chamber, Government Caucus Room, Opposition Caucus Room, Media Room, Anteroom etc. We also met some great people. People like Gail Jenkins and Myra LeClair, as well as Jeff Bursey, Trevor Campbell and Peter MacPhee, all staff at The Provincial Legislature.

Al MacDonald talked to us about security at the Legislature and Province House in general. There are several video cameras surrounding the building and more on the inside monitoring the inside traffic as well. It’s a pretty tight building and the security measures are stringent.

Cheryl Stead spent quite a bit of time with us explaining all of the administrative services and Terry Hogan on MLA renumeration and pension. Very informative.

Other topics and issues were discussed throughout the day in various locations. Jeff on the Hansard; Marion on rules of decorum, Motions, Roles; Charles on Oral question period, Command and Leave Documents, Rules of debate, Committee of the Whole.

It was a day of information overload, but a day I will never forget. And mainly because of one moment.

It was at the end of the day as we all took turns standing at the desks on the floor of Legislature. As I stood to address the other Members, it hit me, and all of a sudden I was overwhelmed with emotion. Surrounding me were Robert Harris paintings depicting pre-Confederation Speakers of the House. Touching the backs of my legs was the same chair so many before me had sat in and risen from to speak on behalf of our ancestors. The weight and responsibility of where I was at that moment entered into my heart and was trapped there for some time.

I will never forget that feeling.