House of Commons Page Program

About the Program

University Course

The School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa offers a three-credit Political Science course (the equivalent of 0.5 credits at Carleton University) exclusively to Pages of the House of Commons. The course takes place during the Winter semester and is a three-hour class that convenes after the House has adjourned. Classes are offered in a bilingual format, allowing students to express themselves in either official language.

The course provides a general introduction to Canadian government and politics and begins with a consideration of the foundations of the Canadian political space: the Constitution, parliamentary government, federalism, political parties and elections. The course also provides an overview of some of the major political forces (e.g., classes, groups, movements, ideas) that shape political life in Canada. The course is also designed to be linked to the work of the Pages and the related experiences they gain while on Parliament Hill.

Although participation in the course is voluntary, we strongly encourage all Pages to enrol in this course.