Television correspondent Adam Powers is following the members of the House of Commons from morning to night as they start the first day of the 123rd Canadian House of Commons session.
On Wednesday, they were just taking their oaths, readying themselves to represent their constituents, in Westminster-style swearing-in ceremonies.
It was like Toronto’s red carpet thing, only instead of the ringing of the gavel from Speaker Geoff Regan, the staff belt was used.
It’s all something different from years past, when some MPs came in with no seniority and didn’t have the necessary staff, found a staffer and were sworn in all at once.
But what they do know is that the media’s not going to like the first few days of their careers.
A campaign
The current session of Parliament began earlier this year and runs through to August.
The new Prime Minister
Yes, the official change of leadership was announced on Tuesday night but it was what happened after that that was the most interesting.
Justin Trudeau — who took to Twitter to call outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper a “dying Conservative” — literally led his second ministers in an attempt to raise a human flag on the lawn of the House of Commons to celebrate moving into the top job.
It appeared to be every bit as political as expected.
Then there was Trudeau’s first surprise — inviting 36-year-old, first-term Liberal MP Sean Casey on stage during a speech.
He also let Casey start the Conservative caucus’s opening remarks.
We’ll see what kind of reaction these rookies face.