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Student learns the ropes working at Queen's Park by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 17 | Thursday, November 28, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Politicians could learn a thing or two from Oakville's Nicholas Scarcelli. The Grade 8 St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School student recently spent three weeks at Queens Park in Toronto as part of the Legislative Page Program. He met key parliamentary and political figures and learned firsthand how Ontario's Parliament and legislative process works. The course, open to all Grade 7 or 8 students in Ontario, taught Scarcelli about non-partisanship, which makes politics "a lot better," he said. "There are lots of different points of view, some that would sometimes seem more valid than others, but you can't think about that. You have to realize each party has equally as important views and you can't think that one is (better) over another," said Scarcelli. To be accepted, Scarcelli had to meet a number of requirements, including writing an 800-word essay on why he would make a good page, sustaining an 80 per cent, or higher, average in school, as well as participation in extracurricular and volunteer-related activities. Working in the Legislative Chamber during House sittings and delivering documents to MPPs' and Assembly offices were among Scarcelli's page duties. "It's actually a very important job as most of the aids cannot go onto the (Legislative) Chamber Nicholas Scarcelli was a page at Queen's Park. | photo by Michael Ivanin -- special to the Beaver I have not yet chosen a party, that's something I would like to choose later on. You should learn about the politics and see how everything works and then choose your party from your own points of view, not from influences by other people. All of the things that I heard and witnessed were seen at a non-partisan level, so you really get to learn more about everyone and the parties without favouring one or another. Nicholas Scarcelli Oakville student floor. Unless you're an elected member, you're really not allowed on the floor in the chamber," said Scarcelli. "Our job is to deliver any notes and get all of the documents that are needed for the MPPs while they're in the Chamber." The youth also had the opportunity to chat with various key figures and politicians such as Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, Premier Kathleen Wynne, On- tario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, the Speaker of the House and the Sergeant-at-Arms, among others. Scarcelli's lunch with Flynn was a "very good experience," he said, because he learned a lot about his Parliamentary role. "I learned how he started in politics and the role that he plays, which is a very big role. He is very involved in our community and he works with many organizations," said Scarcelli. The 13-year-old said he particularly enjoyed the Question Period because it is one of the busiest times of the day where "you learn the most about government policies." "You deliver the most documents, which can be anything for the politicians, mostly from the government side. They ask questions about government policies and things they want to see changed," said Scarcelli, who was also present to witness the Lieutenant Governor give Royal Assent to three bills. "You meet a lot of people who are very influential in how our government works and how Ontario is formed," said Scarcelli. With legislative experience under his belt, Scarcelli aspires to become a politician when he's older, he said. "I really thought that I could work very well in there. It's an environment that I like and is something that I can picture myself doing well at. We have to be non-partisan, so that opened up a lot of different types of opinions that I learned," said Scarcelli. As for choosing a political party to side with, Scarcelli was told by a few MPPs he should never chose a political party immediately, he said. "I have not yet chosen a party, that's something I would like to choose later on. You should learn about the politics and see how everything works and then choose your party from your own points of view, not from influences by other people," said Scarcelli. "All of the things that I heard and witnessed were seen at a non-partisan level, so you really get to learn more about everyone and the parties without favouring one or another." For more information, visit www.ontla.on.ca and select the Legislative Page Program header. 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