Nearly 100 youth from across the province are in Victoria to discuss single-use plastics and lead contamination in drinking water as part of the 91st annual British Columbia Youth Parliament.
The youth, ages 16 to 21, are taking over the provincial legislature until Tuesday. In addition to discussing social issues raised by members, the group plans community-service projects, introduced as government legislation, through debate.
“We’re a community-service organization with a twist of politics,” said Sky Losier, press secretary for the youth parliament, and an alumnus of the program.
Losier said he first got involved as a teenager because he was interested in politics, but he has remained involved with the organization because of its commitment to community service.
“Last year, there were some people who did a drive for menstrual products for homeless people, or they’ll fundraise to do a beach cleanup,” he said.
Members are debating the logistics of two main projects that take place each year: Camp Phoenix, a week-long summer camp for kids who might not otherwise be able to afford the experience, and six regional youth parliaments that teach high school students how the provincial government functions.
This year, they will also discuss plans for the first Canada Youth Parliament, which will take place in Victoria from May 15 to 18. The countrywide event is an expansion of a youth parliament event in B.C. that normally hosts groups from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Adriana Thom, chair of the Canada Youth Parliament, said they’re hoping to host groups from every province and territory.
“I think what this will do is actually be able to bring together a larger variety of youth parliamentarians with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and I think that will make it just much more enriching,” said Thom, a third-year geography and political science student at the University of Victoria.
The youth parliament teaches participants how bills are passed and how the legislative process can be used to create change.
“I think it makes it accessible and it makes it so that, not just myself, like other youth and activists, are able to understand the system and able to tap into it,” Thom said.
The youth parliament’s premier, Ranil Prasad, has noticed that the group of young leaders is more diverse than the population that normally occupies B.C.’s legislative chamber.
“We’ve had women outnumber men in BCYP. We have more ethnic diversity in BCYP,” said Prasad, a fourth-year student at the University of British Columbia studying human geography and political science.
It’s something Prasad sees as a strength, leading to a diversity of opinions.
Members will also discuss and vote on private member’s resolutions to implement recertification requirements for licensed drivers and create a new provincial flag.
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