Hands-on learning about how government works in Ontario
Tips for students

Is government about "them," whoever "they" are? One day, some of you will be "them," running Ontario, managing companies, making movies, writing for newspapers and being the news anchors on television.

It's worth learning about government. As former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once wrote, "Democracy must be the worst form of government in the world, except for all the others." What he meant by this statement is that there is a difference between "ruling" and "governing," and between "leading" and "forcing." People respect leaders who govern wisely, and despise rulers who force their wishes on people.

Democracy in Ontario is about leading and governing. That means it is also about people. One way to learn about democracy in Ontario is to arrange to meet the people who make it work.

Visit the Ontario Legislature while it is in session

It is said that if you enjoy good law and good sausages, you shouldn't watch either being made. The laws by which we live in Ontario are "made" in the Ontario Legislative Chamber at Queen's Park. Your class can visit Queen's Park. Tours are very popular, and need to be booked in advance. Suggest to your teacher that your class visit Queen's Park. You can get visitor information from the Legislative Assembly web site. Be sure to arrange to visit your MPP, Bob Delaney, while your school is at Queen's Park.

Ask your MPP to visit your school

Bob Delaney visits the schools in western Mississauga regularly. Ask your teacher to contact Bob's Queen's Park office, and arrange a visit to your school. Talk about what it's like to be in government, what it takes to become an elected member, and what Members of Provincial Parliament do to benefit the communities they represent.

Check out the Government of Ontario's own web site

The main Government of Ontario web site has links to each ministry within the government. There is more to find than you'll ever be able to use in an assignment.

Watch the Ontario Parliamentary Channel

Assuming you have Cable TV, you can find the Ontario Parliamentary Channel on channels 105 and channel 199. If the Legislature is not in session, you may get either a rebroadcast, a committee hearing, or just notices of upcoming events with music in the background. However, when the Legislature is in session, you can see the session live from start to finish. On the Internet, you can access the Ontario Legislative Assembly web site.

Read the newspapers

Some of the best coverage of Ontario politics comes from the print media. Columnists and bureau reporters cover Queen's Park from the Toronto Star, the Globe & Mail, the Toronto Sun and the National Post (as well as the broadcast media).