I was thrilled to be placed with the Table Research branch for my Legislative Assembly placement. Table Research is the branch responsible for providing procedural research and analysis services to the Speaker, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, MPPs, and the Office of the Assembly staff. This area is responsible for developing, drafting, and communicating research materials relating to House proceedings, procedures, parliamentary practice and traditions. The office also tracks and compiles House precedents as a reference source for information on House procedure rules.
My placement allowed me to conduct professional research for many different areas of procedure. One of the significant projects I worked on was a jurisdictional scan of virtual procedures in parliaments across Canada. This project provided me with valuable insights into parliamentary procedure across different jurisdictions. It not only helped me understand the intricacies of the parliamentary procedure itself but also highlighted the potential processes for making changes to various practices. My additional responsibilities included writing procedural briefing notes on various topics, which the research team keeps on hand.
I was happy to work in the procedural services branch and learn more about the offices there, including the committee clerks and house documents. I was actively engaged in the office's work for the duration of my placement and gained valuable insights into its work.
Overall, this placement was a fantastic learning experience. It was very insightful into the functions of parliamentary procedure and prepared me very well for my subsequent MPP placement. I want to give a special shoutout to my supervisor, Tori, for being very supportive throughout this placement. Thank you, table research!
