The House of Commons Page Program only employs first-year university students studying in the National Capital Region for one year, starting in late August.

Pages work a minimum of 15 hours a week and are not allowed to work elsewhere while they are in the program.

Pages serve different people in the House of Commons, including the speaker, chair occupants, members of Parliament, and table officers.

Duties include important tasks, such as collecting and distributing official documents, delivering messages to different members, but also routine tasks, such as making photocopies and answering telephones.

Orientation starts in August, with an intensive program in Ottawa that introduces pages to their work environment.

The House of Commons pays for a page’s transportation from their permanent place of residence to Ottawa at the beginning of their employment, and also their return journey at the end of their employment. Pages are responsible for all other expenses, tuition fees, books, food, and so on.

Pages are provided with a uniform (black suits and white shirts) that must be returned at the end of their employment. They also receive a shoe allowance to purchase appropriate footwear to go with their uniform.

Source “Welcome to the House of Commons Page Program.” Welcome to the Parliament of Canada, 10 Mar. 2011. http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/programs/pages/PP_Job-e.htm?WhereFrom=Job&Anchor=J4#Transport