Ottawa – Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville encourages area students who are about to begin post-secondary education in Ottawa, to apply for the House of Commons Page program. The application deadline is December 22.

Pages play a key role in the functioning of the House of Commons. They deliver important messages and documents to Members and serve House officials in various capacities.

Always busy, professionalism, non-partisanship and prompt and efficient service have become the hallmark of Pages.

House of Commons Pages are selected from high schools and universities across Canada each year. These students work in the House of Commons while beginning their studies at university in the National Capital Region.

The 2012-2013 Pages will be contracted to work at the House of Commons for one year beginning in late August 2012. They will work a minimum of 15 hours per week and their work schedule will be co-ordinated with their university schedule.

A salary of $12,571 will be paid in 26 equal payments to Pages throughout their working year. In addition a sum of $1,200 will be paid at the successful completion of the contract.

Candidates must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; be graduating from secondary school and beginning full-time university studies in September 2012; have an overall average of at least 80 per cent; be able to communicate fluently in both official languages as evaluated by the House of Commons and apply to a university in the National Capital, be accepted and accept the offer of admission.

Complete information is available on the Parliament of Canada web site, www.parl.gc.ca, and applications must be submitted on-line at www.parl.gc.ca/hocpage.