Published by Senator Mobina Jaffer on 31 August 2010
Many people don’t know this about me but I am the daughter of a politician. My father was a Member of Parliament in Uganda for almost a decade. For as long as I can remember, I have been immersed in political culture and to this day I am grateful to my father for nurturing the interest in politics that I developed as a young woman. The skills that I acquired and the lessons I learned while I was by my father’s side are ones that I still carry with me today.
Now I understand that not everyone is as fortunate as I was and this is why I often invite young people into the political arena and present them with opportunities to get involved. Over the past few months I have had the honour of hosting several groups of young Canadians who have come to visit Parliament from all corners of the country. During their time here these young men and women have explored the halls of Parliament, gained insight into the political process and have engaged in stimulating discussions about how our country is governed.
The event that kicked off the summer was one called “Youth on the Hill.” This event, which is held annually, is one that brings Ismaili youth onto the hill to engage in discussion with Parliamentarians. This past June the Youth on the Hill event brought roughly 40 young men and women to the hill and presented them with an opportunity to participate in discussions led by MP Yasmin Ratansi, MP Keith Martin and The Honourable Mauril Belanger. I can quite confidently say that we were all impressed with what these young people had to say and took pride in their interest in what happens in chambers we work in.
In addition to the Youth on the Hill event, I have also hosted two other groups of young people this summer who have approached their visit to the Hill with great enthusiasm. All of the young individuals that I have met this summer have demonstrated great promise and potential and I am quite confident that the future of our country is in good hands.
Young people have an abundance of great ideas and offer a unique perspective. It is imperative that we provide these young people with an outlet to express themselves so that their ideas and opinions can be developed further. I think it is extremely important that we all remember that the young people of today are the leaders of tomorrow. My father’s passion for politics was passed on to me, and I am committed to making sure that I too pass down my passion for politics to today’s youth.
