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2 lle Beaver | Thursday, May 4, 2023 | 31 = € 8 : 3 £& 1B COMMUNITY LOCAL STUDENT LEARNS | FIRSTHAND HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS 3 MADISON SERVED AS QUEEN'S PARK PAGE Before Madison Wong became an Ontario legisla- tive page, the 12-year- old \d some homework to di "Thad to learn and iene orize the MPPs by their fac- es and names, their politi- cal ridings, special titles if ting the chamber. It took abouta week i my March break to memorize them." The reason behind the memorization was to in- crease efficiency when ringing documents, brief- ings and water to MPPs, said Madison. During her three-week spring page session, the seating arrangements changed so she had to "ad- just to the new seating plan also." oniosity about learning mething n prompted the) ‘MacLachlan College Gr. 7student to apply for the po- ‘ition. "When Iheard about the while having an “oie role at Queen's Park," said Madiso1 On the day allotted to her to be page captain, She followed the Wong family photo Madison Wong, 12, spent three weeks as a Queen's Park page this spring. the cham Meeting with MPPs and feoingt how much they care arms, the Speaker, teak and table clerks in the Speaker's procession into for sired ‘her the most, che a also really enjoyed important news tak- ing place right in front of me. I got to see the 2023 pro- vincial budget being pre- sented from the floor of the chamber on March 23." Madison also loved the discipline of having a job even if it meant waking up at 5:45 a.m. and finishing her duties as late as 6:30 p.m. some “All the pages got along very well, and it felt like we had an important job to do, and we needed to bea team, therwise we would be let- ting each other down. Ihave formed friendships that I will carry with me beyond the three weeks at Queen's “While pages need t to be throughout their did pay close attention to ‘ the topics that were dis- cussed. These included big issues like roving health are, pay equality for women, safety in subways, and discrimination against the 2SLGBTQ+ communi- ties." A vote in the legislature Park." proclaiming June as Se- She said’ she Jeamed that niors Month, which easily MPPs"re: issed, needs ot aoe ni- her that "sometimes poll ties" and that "sometimes tics can be about things that this passioncanleadtoloud everyone agrees about, heckling. When the Speak- " er out "Order!" it "I will be paying more at- means we that certain MPPs are too loud white someone is speaking, and they need to have more decane Not unlike what happens some- s in a classroom at school." ler time as a page has “absolutely increased my interest in politics" be- cause, for one reason, you changes to impor- tant issues, she said. tention to what goes on at ing there, th hear news about MPPs in the future, I will feel more connected to the issues knowing that re hard-working and real peo- ple involved." Windsor Dr, Unit 10, Mississauga Car Detailing is best!