Whitby boy answers the page
Mon May 12, 2008

By: By Melissa Mancini

WHITBY -- Marcus Glennie said he never used to think politics was all that interesting.

But after a few of weeks downtown with provincial politicians, public affairs has a new appeal, said the 13-year-old boy.

Marcus spent three weeks in Queen's Park as a legislative page. Pages are messengers in the Legislative Chamber. They get to meet politicians and other officials and learn about laws and the political process in Ontario.

"It was one of the greatest experience of my life," Marcus said.

Marcus, a Grade 7 student at Jack Miner Public School, said he loved meeting all the people who work in the legislature from all across Ontario.

His foray into government started when his mom, Maria Iannuzziello, encouraged him to apply for the program. His mom said Marcus's good grades and extracurricular activities made him a good candidate for the job.

Marcus's aunt was also a page as a girl and he said he wanted to carry on the tradition.

His favourite part of every day was watching question period because he liked watching politicians debate the issues, he said.

He would go back for three more weeks in a heartbeat if he was given the chance, he said, and now watches parliamentary proceedings on TV when he gets the chance. He said he is now considering politics as a career field in the future.