Young people cross swords at the 10th Youth Parliament in Acadia

Nearly fifty young Francophones gathered in Fredericton, New Brunswick, for the tenth Youth Parliament in Acadia. For three days, this meeting allows them to learn about the Canadian parliamentary system through simulated chamber debates.

The biannual event, which takes place from January 2 to 5, is organized by the Société nationale de l’Acadie.

The young cabinet members of this fictitious parliament Acadia country are aged 14 to 25 and come from the four Atlantic provinces. Others came from Louisiana, France, Belgium and Quebec.

In fact it is a parliamentary simulation, we are in the chamber and we debate bills entirely prepared by young ministers. It is truly an event by and for young people where young people are at the heart of the organization from start to finishexplains Simon Thériault, minister of Grand Falls.

Participants take this opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Canadian parliamentary system.

The youth parliament gives us a vision of what is happening in the real world and what it would look like if we were an MP for our regionAriane replied.

What I like is the exercise of debatessays Marianne Arseneau. The goal is to debate and develop arguments and to speak in public.

The Youth Parliament in Acadia takes place every two years, alternating with the pan-Canadian youth parliament. Participants are divided into three categories: parliamentarians, media and pages.

Mia McGuinnesswho has already participated in the event as a page and deputy, registered in the media component this year in order to diversify her experience.

It’s a new world reallyshe comments. There are more commitments, I find, because at the end of the day, when everyone has finished, the rest of us still have to do our articles.

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Several participants say they have confidence in the next generation of Acadian politicians.

Over the years, we see more and more people wanting to get involved in these events.recalls Jacob Farrell.This gives me good hope that we can continue to ensure that Acadia continues to be considered in provincial or even federal policies.

It shows the public and society that we are here, ready, and that we are capable of being engaged.Ariane replied.

Youth are the adults of tomorrowsummary Hayden Cotton.

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The snowblower and snow parties face off in the bedroom

The Premier of New Brunswick, Susan Holt, the leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick, David Coon, and the Minister responsible for La Francophonie, Robert Gauvin, took part in the launch of the 10th edition.

The young people also had a visit from a national governor of Acadia who participated in the activities. It was Serge Brideau, the singer of the group Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire and candidate of the Green Party of New Brunswick in Tracadie during the last provincial election.

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During oral jousting exercises, participants can create characters and take strong positions and debate within their fictional party.

Marianne Arseneau, for example, is a member of the Snow Party, a nationalist party avoiding injustice for purified governance and debated, Friday, a bill facilitating the expression of gender diversity.

The main goal was for the state not to assign a gender to individuals […] and it was also to remove all gendered categories in stores, like razors for men or womensummarizes Marianne Arseneau.

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Marianne Arseneau also chairs the chamber. I would say that our deputies are very polite […] After watching the end of year programs and seeing the clips of [vrais] MPs in the House of Commons, perhaps he could take notes from some of our MPsshe jokes.

For his part, Hayden Cotton is Minister of Health for the Blower Party, which appoints a government openly united socialist favoring freedom and equality, social union and ecology.

On Saturday, he will present his bill in the chamber. The main goal of my bill is to decentralize health carehe said.

The tenth Youth Parliament in Acadia ends Sunday. The last edition, in February 2023, was held in Saint John, Newfoundland.

Based on the report by Allie Chouinard and with information from the show Your Saturday