Manitoba's newest class of MLAs take crash course on their new jobs

The students are wearingname tags, sticking to their assigned seats and jotting down notes. It looked and felt like a school classroom, rather than abunch of new politicians seated in the chamber ofthe 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 atthe beginning of every school year, anytime you go into a new classroom," said Cross, who was elected as aNew Democrat.

"It feels like I'm coming home."

Over the course of four days, Manitoba's rookieprovincial 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 onwhat'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 quitetake attendance, but we did want them all here at the same time," said deputy clerk Rick Yarish, who helped organize the sessions.

They'll belearning everything from how to introduce legislation, when to stand up in question period and how toset up a constituency office.

There arealso 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 ofinformation 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 thelegislature building. She's periodically worked for the Progressive Conservatives over the years, soshe can already direct her rookiecolleagues to acommittee room orbathroom, she said, but nothing could fully prepare her for new responsibilities.

"I had a huge grin on my facewhen 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 runsome form of orientation for newly-elected MLAs, but Yarishsaid this year they coordinated everything into a cohesive four-day package.

The various sessions only scratch the surface of what the MLAsneed 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 thefirst question period, firstthrone speech, all of those things."

WATCH |Manitoba's newest MLAs learn the ins and outs of the legislature:

Manitoba's newest MLAs learn the ins and outs of the legislature

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Affectionately called "new MLA school," the 26 newly elected Manitoba legislators take part in a four-day orientation session to acquaint them with their new jobs.

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 ownconstituency office asa 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, RonKostyshyn, 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 feelbutterflies in his stomachlike in 2011 when he was first elected, but said it is humbling to return to the chamber. He finds the orientation sessions to bevaluable refresher, he said.

"I love theopportunity to sit around,introduce and meet some of the new MLAs and have kind of a good discussion with the Opposition and ourown party," Kostyshyn said.

So far, this class of MLAs seemed attentive to the presentations andcollegial to each other at least, for now.

"I think we'llall 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 Kinewof the governing NDPand his cabinet ministerswill get sworn in on Wednesday. A majority of the other MLAs are scheduled to be sworn in on Oct. 23.