Alberta youth Parliament project.

• Author: Garrison, Gary

Democracy came alive for 83 Alberta grade 10 social studies students who spent five and a half hours serving as MLAs during the first Mr. Speaker's Alberta Youth Parliament on April 15 and 16, 1999. Fourteen teachers participated in the concurrent teachers' program.

It was as close to the real thing as the students could get, right down to live television coverage and authentic issues of Votes and Proceedings, Orders of the Day, and Hansard (all of which were subsequently posted on the Assembly's web site, www.assembly.ab.ca. At a bearpit session with Speaker Ken Kowalski, several teachers commented that the briefing sessions were too short, the pace was too hectic, students had to work too late into the night preparing, and nobody had much of a chance to develop comradery within their caucuses. "The whole experience is so real," Speaker Kowalski replied. "These are the same comments MLAs make after every election!"

With the initial impetus provided by Speaker Kowalski, this program was sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion, Alberta-Northwest Territories Command, and developed by Legislative Assembly staff with the help of six high school social studies teachers nominated by the Social Studies Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association. Student participants each represented one of Alberta's 83 constituencies in the Legislative Assembly of the fictitious province of Rupertland. A key difference from many other model parliaments was that the student MLAs were paired with real MLAs and offered the chance to experience the representative side of the MLAs' role by talking with their own MLA, shadowing their MLA, or spending time in the MLA's office.

The application process required each student to write about why they wanted to participate in the youth parliament and how they would share the experience with others afterwards. They submitted two letters of reference as well, one from a teacher and one from someone in their community. Selection was based on their having a good academic record, leadership qualities, an interest in community and current affairs, and an interest in Canadian history. Organizers evaluated all applicants from each constituency against the selection criteria, choosing one to represent his or her own constituency. Alternates were evaluated against the same criteria and selected to represent the constituencies from which no applications were received.

The program began with a lunch with Alberta MLAs on Thursday, April 15. About 50 MLAs attended, a phenomenal turnout at any time, much less on a busy day during session. This was a key indicator of the level of support the members gave the new youth parliament from start to finish.

After lunch, the Speaker introduced the student and teacher participants as well as Legion representatives in the galleries, where they sat to observe Oral Question Period. They then had a VIP tour of the Legislature...