Rookie MPs get back-to-school programming to help ease transition to public life

Even though it's only September, it appears the House of Commons' Class of 2011 has already gone on its first field trip.

This past weekend more than 30 rookie members of Parliament cut their summer vacations short to take part in in a two-day, back-to-Parliament orientation organized by the Carleton Initiative for Parliamentary and Diplomatic Engagement.

The weekend program began Saturday with an early morning departure for Rideau Hall, the Museum of Civilization and the Supreme Court of Canada.

The 'newbies' "rode around the city on two tour buses, one pointing out the sights in English, the other in French," noted a column on iPolitics.ca.

Day 2 was an 'in-class' day.

On Sunday, MPs participated in panel discussions on a variety of issues including ones on the inner-workings of Ottawa, political and personal accountability, Canada's demographic reality and on balancing work and family life.

Speakers included former MPs John Manley and Alexa McDonough, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and journalist Chantal Hebert.

"Our goal was to provide an orientation that consisted of a wide-ranging program of briefings and tours combined with panels composed of former members of Parliament, senior officials who have worked at the highest levels of government and Carleton professors who represented a variety of viewpoints," program organizer Maureen Boyd told Yahoo! Canada News.

"Evaluation forms from the MPs who participated indicated that they found it very beneficial, with many commenting on the quality of the speakers and the information provided."

In June, new MPs were given an orientation meant to teach them the ins and outs of parliamentary procedure.

The impetus of this weekend's orientation was an exit survey of 65 former MPs which concluded the traditional orientation doesn't go far enough.

"Few recalled receiving organized support or formal training," noted the study conducted by Samara Canada, a charitable organization that studies citizen engagement.

"It was surprising to learn that newly elected parliamentarians had so little support during their initiation into national public life, including insufficient training or formal orientation."

The Carleton Initiative website notes more training will be offered to new MPs throughout the fall sitting of Parliament and beyond.

Ongoing orientation will consist of approximately 10 to 12 events such as panels and seminars on subjects like Arctic issues, immigration and foreign policy.

(CP Photo)