Canadian House of Commons Page Program

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The Canadian House of Commons Page Program is a student internship program of the House of Commons of Canada. Every year, 40 undergraduate students are selected via national competition to work for the House of Commons as pages. Pages perform both ceremonial and administrative duties, including:

• participation in the Speaker's parade,
• delivering documents and water to Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Chamber and in House committees,
• answering telephones in the lobbies and delivering messages to MPs, and
• assisting the Speaker, Clerks, Sergeant-at-Arms and other House officers in the Chamber.

Pages work an average of 15 hours per week in the House of Commons while studying full-time at one of the four universities (University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Université du Québec en Outaouais, or Saint Paul University) in the National Capital Region. They are paid approximately $16,587 (CDN) for their one-year term, in 26 equal payments. In addition to this, $1,200 is given upon successful completion of employment.^[1]

Pages take part in a number of activities throughout the year designed to enrich their experience, including meetings with MPs and government leaders. They also meet frequently with student groups to explain the workings of the House and their duties as pages.