By TOBI COHEN, Postmedia News May 20, 2011

A brand new crop of MPs arrived on Parliament Hill Thursday for a customary orientation session aimed at bringing them up to speed on the nuts and bolts of the job.

Among them were a number of neophyte New Democrats, including 19-year-old Pierre-Luc Dusseault - Canada's youngest parliamentarian - and Ruth Ellen Brosseau, the Carleton University pub manager who came under fire for spending part of the election campaign in Las Vegas instead of in the Quebec riding she now represents.

NDP handlers were in mother hen mode, ushering many of the obviously nervous rookies out of the spotlight
"It feels great. We're really happy," said Charmaine Borg, the new MP for Terrebonne-Blainville.

While Dusseault dodged questions upon arrival, he got caught in a human traffic jam in a public corridor as the rookies were ushered from one room to another.

"I'm happy that Sherbrooke has given me this chance," Dusseault told reporters, adding the community in Quebec's Eastern Townships is very student-oriented.

The teenager, who had planned to work at a golf course during the summer before he unexpectedly won his seat, said he's not nervous about his new role and he was looking forward to working on "all the issues young Canadians care about."

By the afternoon, his shyness appeared to have worn off as he agreed to let media join his mother, grandmother, stepfather and aunt at his swearing-in ceremony - a deeply personal event many MPs choose to keep private.

"I want to thank all my constituents who gave me this chance to be the representative for all Sherbrookers and all the young people and all Canadians in this country," he said after declaring his allegiance to the queen and signing the documents.

According to Heather Bradley, a spokesperson in the office of the Speaker, more than 100 of the 111 newly elected MPs and their significantothers attended the session.

Veteran MPs of all stripes, including Conservative Joe Preston, Liberal Mauril Belanger and New Democrat Joe Comartin, were on hand to share their experiences and shed light on the impact public service can have on family.

Thursday's orientation included tips on such things as securing leases for constituency offices and hiring staff, Bradley said. A second session will be held to explain what will happen the day of the Throne Speech, the responsibilities of committee members and how a typical day in the House of Commons works, Bradley said.

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