Manitoba's newest class of MLAs take crash course on their new jobs
Rookie legislators taught a whirlwind of subjects, from question period to opening a constituency office
The students are wearing name tags, sticking to their assigned seats and jotting down notes. It looked and felt like a school classroom, rather than a bunch of new politicians seated in the chamber of the Manitoba Legislative Building.
For Billie Cross, the MLA-elect for Seine River, the experience was familiar, even if the venue looked different.
"Being a teacher, this is nothing new to me. This is something you do at the beginning of every school year, anytime you go into a new classroom," said Cross, who was elected as a New Democrat.
"It feels like I'm coming home."
Over the course of four days, Manitoba's rookie provincial legislators are becoming acquainted with their new place of work through a complete schedule of orientation sessions.
The non-partisan Legislative Assembly of Manitoba is putting on what's affectionally being called "new MLA school." Nearly half of the MLAs elected — 26 of the 57 — are enrolled in the program, which started on Monday.
"We didn't quite take attendance, but we did want them all here at the same time," said deputy clerk Rick Yarish, who helped organize the sessions.
They'll be learning everything from how to introduce legislation, when to stand up in question period and how to set up a constituency office.
There are also separate sessions on the independent offices of the assembly, such as the ombudsman and auditor general.
It's a lot to learn, said Kathleen Cook, the new MLA for Roblin.
"It's like drinking water through a fire hose," she said, chuckling.
"There's a lot of information coming at us, but it's all very useful and all things we need to know to do our jobs."
'Huge grin' walking into the chamber
Cook already knows her way around the legislature building. She's periodically worked for the Progressive Conservatives over the years, so she can already direct her rookie colleagues to a committee room or bathroom, she said, but nothing could fully prepare her for new responsibilities.
"I had a huge grin on my face when I got to walk into the chamber for the first time this morning, even though we're just there for training."
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba has traditionally run some form of orientation for newly-elected MLAs, but Yarish said this year they coordinated everything into a cohesive four-day package.
The various sessions only scratch the surface of what the MLAs need to know, but it'll help them build relationships with the people who can help them — and each other, Yarish said.
"They are the Class of '23," he said. "If you talk to a veteran MLAs, they'll remember who was in their class and they remember going through versions of training and the first question period, first throne speech, all of those things."
WATCH | Manitoba's newest MLAs learn the ins and outs of the legislature:
Those bonds can stretch across partisan divides. During lunch, some NDP and PCs members sat together.
Lauren Stone, the new PC MLA for Midland, said such collaboration is valuable for the elected members themselves, and the province at large.
"I know we have a role to play in Opposition to hold the government to account, but I also know that we can work across party lines to get some things accomplished here in the province and I'm looking forward to doing that," Stone said.
Some of the MLA-elects described setting up their own constituency office as a top priority.
Nellie Kennedy, representing the NDP in Assiniboia, said she already has a list of people to help.
"There's been a lot of folks reaching out to introduce themselves and congratulating me and wanting to work together and moving forward," she said.
One of the new MLAs, Ron Kostyshyn, already has experience in the job. Kostyshyn, who's now representing the Dauphin constituency for the NDP, served one term in office.
He said he doesn't feel butterflies in his stomach like in 2011 when he was first elected, but said it is humbling to return to the chamber. He finds the orientation sessions to be valuable refresher, he said.
"I love the opportunity to sit around, introduce and meet some of the new MLAs and have kind of a good discussion with the Opposition and our own party," Kostyshyn said.
So far, this class of MLAs seemed attentive to the presentations and collegial to each other — at least, for now.
"I think we'll all have a chance to have a go at each other during question period, but it's important that we're able to work with our colleagues from all parties as well," Cook said.
Premier-designate Wab Kinew of the governing NDP and his cabinet ministers will get sworn in on Wednesday. A majority of the other MLAs are scheduled to be sworn in on Oct. 23.
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